
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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UBRARY^CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH, HEMPSTEAD. 

Anthony Yelverton Head Workman. 

Opened for divine worship Wednesday, April 23, 1735. Rev. Robert Jenney, Rector. 



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HEMPSTEAD, 

INCLUDING 

^ OYSTEKBAY 

AND THE 
ILLUSTRATED FKOM 

LETTERS OF THE MISSIONARIES, 

AND OTHER AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS. 



By henry ONDERDONK, Jr., 



A. B., University of Cambridge ; 
A. M., Columbia College 



•,:-.^ •' A' dm 

HEMPSTEAD, N. Y.! 

LOTT VAN DE WATER, PRINTER AND PUBLISHER, 

1880. 



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In 1701, some members of the Church of England formed a "Society for 
Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." Their Missionaries were required to 
report to the Society once a year, or oftener, the state of their several Missions. 
This volume contains so much of their correspondence relating to Hempstead as 
has been procurable : for which privilege the compiler is indebted to the kindly 
influence of the Rev. George Williamson Smith and the Rev. Dr. Drovvne, and the 
obliging courtesy of Bishop Perry, the custodian. 

This Venerable Society held its annual meetings in London, and published 
abstracts from the Reports of its Missionaries. Some of these letters seem to 
have been subsequently lost or mislaid ; for in the collection made by the Rev. 
Dr. Hawks many letters used in making out the Society's Annual Reports are not 
now to be found. These printed abstracts are now, however, all incorporated in 
the present volume with the Rev. Dr. Hawks' unabridged transcripts; and they 
shed additional light on the obscurity of the early history of the Hempstead 
Church. 

After the first selection of these letters had been printed, my generous 
publisher, Mr. Lott Van De Water, like a true son of the Church, allowed me 
to go over the field again for a second gleaning. Hence the letters do not 
follow in a chronological order ; but as the topics are quite independent of 
each other this will cause little inconvenience. 

Though Mr. Thomas served the parish over twenty years, all remembrance 
of him had so faded out that his name does not appear in the list of Ministers 
inscribed, in 1823, on a marble tablet in the church. Some extracts from his 
correspondence and that of the succeeding Missionaries were published for the 
first time in 1841, by the Rev. Dr. Carmichael, in "The Rise and Progress 
of St. George's Church." 

The Rev. Dr. Moore, the eleventh Minister of this ancienc Parish, has for 
some years been gathering materials fur a more connected, full and complete 
history of the Church, brought down to the present time, which it is hoped 
may see the light at no distant day. 



IV 

John J. Latting, Esq., has kindly copied and verified sundry documents 
and greatly facilitated my researches. 

The author of this compilation has in press: "Antiquities of the Parish 

Church, Jamaica, L. I.," which will be a companion volume to this, as the 

two will embrace an outline of the early history of the entire Diocese of Long 

Island. 

Henry Onderdonk, Jr. 

Jamaica, L. I., May, 1880. 



Other Contributions to Local History by the Compiler. 



Revolutionary Incidents of Queens County," 1846. 

Letters to J. F. Cooper on the Death of General WoocUiull," 1848. 

Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk and Kings Counties," 1849. 

Genealogy of the Onderdonk Family," 1852. 

' Queens County in Olden Times," 1865. 

' Bibliography of Long Island," 1866. 

' Reformed Dutch Churches and Ministers on Long Island," 1866. 

'Agriculture, Stock-Breediug and Manufactures in Hempstead," 1867. 
' Rise and Growth of Friends on Long Island and in New York City," 1870. 

' Annals of Hempstead," 1878. 

' Antiquities of the Parish Church, Jamaica, L. I.," 1880. 



|iiiti(ntitics flf Jcmpstciib C|iirc|. 



By henry ONDERDONK, Jr. 



Hempstead was settled in 1643, by Presby- 
terians and Independents, who bnilt a house 
of worship and maintained a minister by a 
town rate. We cannot ^ive a clear account 
of the early ministers. In 1G51 Rev. John 
Moore styles himself " Minister of the Church 
of Hempstead." 

In a letter of the Dutch ministers at New 
York (1G57) it is stated that " At Hempstead 
there are some Independents ; also many of 
the Dutch persuasion and Presbyterians. 
They have a Presbyterian preacher, Richard 
Denton, an honest, pious and learned man, 
who has in all thinojs conformed to our 
Church. The Independents listen attentively 
to his preaching, but when he begins to bap 
tise the children of parents who are not mem- 
bers of the church, they sometimes burst out 
of the church." 

In IGoT, July 15tli, Gov. Stuyvesant., who 
favored the Presbyterian interest, visited 
Hempstead in hopes of settling Mr. Denton's 
continuance there, and says : " It he cannot be 
persuaded to stay, you must then look for 
another able and godly man ; but as Mr. 
Fordham, sometime your minister, left the 
place and exercise of the ministry without 
our wish or knowledge, and for little or no 
reason, we cannot admit of his coming back 
again." 

The quarter's rate for Mr. Denton in 1657 
was £17.10, being a levy of 3i pence to the 
acre. In 1658 it was paid in wheat at 5s. per 
bushel, or cats at 2s. 6d. 

In August, 1657, traveling preachers of the 
Society of Friends began to visit Hempstead, 
and by inveighing against paying money to 
" liireling priests," in the course of time drew 
off many from the church. 

1660, November 10. The town order a 
house-end to be set up to Goodman Pearsall's 



>«<0-D 

" From the want of a minister, now so long 
continued, many of our children are yet un- 
baptised." Tlie Governor sent (March 12th) 
Rev. Samuel Drisius to them, who preached 
and baptised forty -one children and an aged 
woman 

In 1662, May 16th, the town had voted a 
salary of £70 to Mr. Jonah Fordham, who 
had been one year amonst them ; but the 
magistrates had to send to the Governor for 
a warrant against some that refused to pay 
the minister's rate. 

1670, April 1st. By major vote the minis- 
ter of the town is allowed to have free pasture 
for six oxen. 

1671, April 25. The town-house or the par- 
sonage lot is sold at £9 in corn. 

1674, November 80. Some of the towns- 
people petition the Governor " to install such 
authority among us as may be a means under 
God for upholding and maintaining the min- 
istry, the worship of God and the Gospel of 
the Lord Jesus Christ amongst us, that the 
honor of God might be promoted and his Sab- 
baths observed, for the good of us and our 
posterity." 

1678, January 7th. By major vote it was 
agreed to build a meeting-house forty by 
twenty-six feet, and twelve feet in the stud, 
with a leanto on each side. 

1679, May 26th. Gov. Andros forbids Qua- 
ker meetings in Hempstead, but to no pur- 
pose. 

1680, May 12th. The old meetinghouse 
and the fort enclosing it were sold at outcry 
for £2.12 in meeting-house pay. 

1682, May 6th. By major vote at town- 
meeting, Rev. Jeremy Hobart is called to be 
minister. A house eighteen by thirty-six feet 
is to be built for him to live in. His salary 
was by subscription, £70 in corn or cattle, 



house, for the entertainment of young Master and his fire wood brought him at free-cost. 
Fordham, and that the meeting house be re- Jeremy Wood is allowed 10s. a year for look- 



paired and made comfortable to meet in. 
In 1661, February loth, some people of 



ing after the opening and shutting of the 
window-shuts of the meeting-house, and to 



Hempstead write to Gov. Stuyvesant that : look carefully after the hour-glass. Though 



the town had ordered a bell from Amsterdam 
as long ago as 1G56, it seems not to have ar- 
rived, for Richard Gildersleeve, Sr.. is hired, 
at 20s. a year, to beat the drum to announce 
the hours of worship. 

1087. The people of Great Neck (then in- 
cluded in the town) complain that Hobart 
don't preach and visit amongst them. In 
1083 they had built a church by themselves 
and hired Eev. Morgan Jones as pastor, but 
Hobart forbid his preaching there as being in 
his parish. 

1090, April 20. Samuel Sewall says, "I 
rode to Hempstead to hear Mr. Hobart, but 
he was at York. So I staid at Mr. Jackson's, 
read chapters, and Mr. Stoughton, my com- 
panion, prayed." 

In 1090, December 4th, Mr. Hobart bad to 
resort to the Court of Oyer and Terminer to 
compel the town to pay tlie arrears of his 
salary. In 1092 he was constrained to leave 
Hempstead, " by reason of numbers of the 
peoi)le turning Quakers and many others 
being so irreligious that they would do 
nothing toward the support of the Gospel." 

In 109-1—5, Mr. William Vesey is set down 
as an Independent minister here, the same 
who in 1007 became first rector of Trinity 
Church, New York.* 

We no longer find the names of the minis- 
ters on record, but there must have been such. 
Roger Gill, a Friend, speaks of having among 
his hearers (August 3d, 1099) a candidate for 
the Presbyterian pulpit, who took notes of his 
discourse. 

* "lu the year 1697, Gov. Fletcher by his example 
and coniUenance promoted the building of Trinity 
Church, in New York, by voluntary contribution, and 
placed in it the present incumbent, Rev. William Ve- 
sey, who at that time was a dissenting preacher on 
Long Island. He had received his education in Har- 
vard College, under that rigid Independent, Increase 
Mather, and was sent from thence hi/ him to confirm 
the minds of those who had removed for their con- 
venience from New England to this Province ; for Mr. 
Mather having advice that there was a minister of the 
Established Church of England come over in quality 
of chaplain of the forces at New York, and fearing 
that the Common Prayer and the hated ceremonies ol 
our Church might gain ground, he spared no pains oi 
care to spread the warmest of his emissaries through 
this Province; but Gov. Fletcher, who saw into thi^ 
design, took oft' Mr. Vesey ty an invitation to this 
living, [Trinity Church], a promise to advance his sti- 
pend considerably, and to recommend him for Holy 
Orders to your Lordship's predecessor ; all vi'hich was 
performed accordingly, and Mr. Vesey returned from 
England in Priest's orders."— ^^iWre.v.v to the Bishop of 
London (about 1714) from Gov. Hunter's friends. 



The Friends having made such inroads into 
the Presbyterian Church, there seemed a good 
opening for establishing a Church of England. 
Accordingly the Rev. George Keith, a con- 
verted Quaker, but now an itinerant mission- 
ary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel 
in Foreign Parts, resorted to Hempstead sev- 
eral times in hopes of gaining over both 
Friends and Presbyterians to the Church. 
On one occasion Keith, following the steps of 
one Samuel Bovvnas, a traveling preacher, to 
Hempstead, appointed a meeting at the same 
hour as Bovvnas had, and to preach within 
hearing distance. Between the two appoint- 
ments there was a very large gathering. 
The Quaker champion says: "I being very 
young and strong, my voice was plainly 
heard by the people who were with Keith, 
so that they all left his meeting but the 
clerk and William Bradford, and came to 
ours, for we had room enough for both meet- 
ings, it being a very large barn of Nathaniel 
Pearsall. 

Keith says: 1702, September 27, (Sunday), 
I preached at Hempstead, in the afterncwn, 
from Luke x, 42. where was such a multitude 
that the church [Independent meeting-house] 
could not hold them, so that many stood 
at the doors and windows to hear, who were 
generally well affected and greatly desired 
that a Church of England minister should 
be settled amongst them. November 20th, 
(Thursday), I preached there on Acts, xxvi, 
18 ; and November 29, (Sunday), I preached 
there again on Hebrews, viii, 10, 11, 12. In 
1708. November 21, (Sunday), I again preached 
there on 1st Peter, ii, 9, and lodged at Isaac 
Smith's, [north side the Plains], four miles 
from the church, where I baptized a young 
woman of his family, and a boy and girl of 
his relations, and a neighbor's child, a boy. 
This Smith had formerly been a Quaker, and 
was scarce then fully come ofi', but came and 
heard me preach, and was well affected and 
did kindly entertain me. 

1708, January 12. " At a general town- 
meeting, John Pine was chosen church warden, 
and Jonathan Smith, Samuel Denton, John 
Haviland and .vestrymen for Hemp- 
stead : Mr. Thomas Jones, church warden, 
and Edmund Wright, Isaac Doughty, Samuel 
Dickinson, Richard Willis and Nathaniel 
Coles, vestrymen for Oysterbay. Thomas 
Gildersleeve was chosen, April 1st, in place 
of John Pine. 



The above election was held agreeable to 
the Ministry Act of September 22d, 1693, 
which seems to have lain dormant hitherto, 
but was probably revived by the new Gov- 
ernor, Lord Cornbury. By this act Hemp- 
stead and Oysterbay were constituted one 
parish, and were required to raise £60 per 
annum for the sujjport of a good sufficient 
Protestant minister. 

The successive steps by which a Church of 
England minister was eventually settled at 
Hempstead are not well known, but we give 
all we have discovered. 

The Rev. John Bartow, of Westchester, 
writes (May 24, 1704,) that " Hempstead has 
long expected a Missionary from the Venera 
bie Society, and I hope they will soon be an- 
swered." 

The Rev. Mr. Pritchard, of Rye, writes 
(November 1, 1704,) that " The Venerable So- 
citty would do well to recommend Mr. Stuart 
to Hempstead, where they stand very much 
in need of a minister, and complain very 
much for [want of] a Churchman, it being 
the best place in the Province of New York, 
and best aifected for the Church. I design to 
preach there frequently, (God willing), in 
order to continue them in a good opinion of 
our Church till a minister comes. Mr. Vesey 
and the people of Hempstead have been 
very pressing on me to remove thither, say- 
ing Lord Cornbury would willingly consent 
thereto." 

Lord Cornbury writing (August 23, 1703,) 
gives Mr. John Thomas a letter of commen- 
dation to the Venerable Society. He says he 
is a sober, ingenuous gentleman, and has 
served as lecturer over three years in Phila 
delphia. I hope you will send him to Ja 
niaica or Hempstead. Keith says (April 2, 
1703,) Mr. John Thomas, an ordained deacon, 
has set up a school in Philadelphia, and man- 
aged it well for above two years. He intends 
for London a year hence to be ordained pres- 
byter. He was assistant to Rev. Evan Evans, 
and also preached in the country places about 
Philadelphia. The vestry of Christ Church 
commend him to the favor and patronage of 
the Bishop of London, as being discreet and 
inoffensive to all. Mr. Thoma.s had left Phil 
adelphia by or before April 7, 1704, and had 
returned from England, in December follow- 
ing, in priest's orders and with an appoint- 
ment to the church at Hempstead. 



MANDATE FOR THE INDUCTION OF JOHN 

THOMAS. 
EDWARD, the most illustiious Viticount Cornbury, 
Captain General and Governoi- of the Province of 
New York in America, Vice-Admiral of the same, 
&c. 

To ALL and singular the rectors, vicars, chaplains, 
curates, clergymen and ministers whatsoever in and 
throughout the \vhole Province of New York, wherever 
established, and also to the present church wardens 
of the parochial church of Hempstead, Greeting. 

Whereas, I commit to yon jointly and severally 
our beloved in Christ, John Thomas, clergyman, pre- 
sented to the rectory or parochial church of Hemp- 
stead, now vacant, to be instituted as rector of the 
same, and flinily enjoining I command that you col- 
late and induct, or cause to be inducted, the same 
John Thomas (or his lawful proctor for himself and 
in his name) into the real, actual and corporal pos- 
session of said rectory or parochial church, and into 
all its rights and appurtenances, and that you defend 
him so inducted; and what you shall have done in 
the premises you will (when duly required thereto) 
certify me or some other competent judge in this 
behalf, or he will certify whichever of you being pres- 
ent may have executed this mandate. 

Given under the prerogative seal of said Province, 
the 26th day of December, Anno Domini 1704. 

Cornbury. 

Geo. Clarke, Sec'y. 

THE RETURN. 

We whose names are subscribed, by virtue of the 

above instrument have inducted the Reverend Domine 

Thomas into the real, actual and corpor.il possession 

of the rectory or parochial church of Hempstead, the 

27th oay of December, Anno Domini 1704. 

William Vesey, Rector of Trinity Church, N. Y. 

William Urquhart, 

Rector of the Parish Church, Jamaica. 

Thos. Jones, '-Churchwardens. 

Thos. Giluersleeve, ( 

In a letter of March 1st, 1705, Mr. Thomas 
thus writes of his new situation, to the Ven- 
erable Society : " After much toil and fatigue, 
I am through God's assistance safely arrived, 
and have been two months settled at Hemp- 
stead, where I met with civil reception from 
the people. They are generally Independ- 
ents or Presbyterians, and have hitherto been 
supplied, ever since the settlement of the 
town, with a dissenting ministry. 

" The prejudice and bias of education is the 
greatest difficulty I labor under. The coun- 
try is extremely wedded to a dissenting min- 
istry, and were it not for His Excellency my 
Lord Cornbury's most favorable countenance 
to us, we might expect the severest entertain- 
ment here that malice and the rigor of preju- 
dice could afflict us with. All we of the clergy 
need the influence of His Lordship's most fa- 
vorable aspect. Government is our great 
asylum and bulwark which My Lord exerts 
to the utmost when the necessities and inter- 



ests of tlie Charcli call for it. His counte- 
nance, next to the Providence of Heaven, is 
inj' chiefest safety. I have scarce a man in 
the parish truly steady and real to the inter- 
est and promotion of the Church any farther 
than they aim at the favor or dread the dis- 
pleasure of His Lordship. His Lordship's 
extraordinary respect to the clerjry has set 
them above the snarlincr of the vulgar and 
secured to them respect and deference from 
the best of the people. The people of Hemp- 
stead are better disposed to peace and civility 
than they are at Jamaica. 'I'his is the face of 
affairs here accordino- to the best observation 
I could make in the short time I have lived 
here. 

" The gall of bitterness of this Independent 
kidney is inconceivable — not unlike that of 
Demetrius and his associates at the conceived 
downfall of the great Diana of the Epiiesians. 
We have a great work to go through, unruly 
beasts (with Daniel) to encounter, but we 
trust that the great God whose cause we 
stand for will enable us to go on. 

"The fathers of these people came from 
New England, and I need not tell you how 
averse they of that country are to our C'hurcli 
discipline. The people here being generally 
very poor, and utterly averse to the service of 
the Church of England. The inhabitants 
transported themselves here from New Eng- 
land, and have been ever since their first set- 
tlement supplied by a ministry from there. 

" I have neither pulpit nor anj' one neces- 
sary for the administration of the Holy Eu- 
charist, and only the beat of a drum to call 
the people together. His Excellency Lord 
Cornbury is a true nursing father to our 
infancy here, his countenance and protection 
is never wanting to us, his being by inclina- 
tion a true son of the Church moves him 
zealously to support that wholly. If it liad 
not been for the countenance and support of 
Lord Cornbury and his Government, it would 
have been impossible to have settled a Church 
on the Island." 

It appears that the possession of the church, 
house and lands at Hempstead were willingly 
surrendered by the Independent minister, 
when demanded by Mr. Thomas. 

1705, April 33. Mr. Thomas writes that 
" The church is not only better attended now 
than it ever was before, under the Dissenters, 
according to their confession, but I have ad- 
mitted to the communion at one time three. 



at another four of the most rigid of the Inde- 
pendents, while twelve had just received the 
holy ordinance of baptism, among whom 
were several adults." 

1705, May 26. Mr. Thomas writes: "My 
path here is very thorny ; all my steps are 
narrowly Avatched ; I am obliged to walk 
very singuly. I have brought some few of 
the honestest, best-inclined, to religiou, and 
the soberest to the holy communion, and hope 
in titue (if God enable me) to have a plentiful 
harvest among them." 

1705, May 30. Governor Cornbury orders, 
" the parsonage house and home lot to be re- 
])aired so that they may be tenantable, and 
the parsonage meadow fenced at the town's 
cost, and the church to be repaired, and what 
is needful about them all." Town meetings 
were held in the church. 

1705, June 27. "The people here are all 
stif}' Dissenters — not above three Church peo- 
ple in tlie whole parish — all of them of the 
rebellious offspring of '42. Brother Urquhart, 
of Jamaica, and myself belong to one county, 
and the only English ministers on the Island. 
We are the first that brake the ice amongst 
this sturdy, obstinate people, who endeavor 
what in them lies to crush us in embryo ; 
but, blessed be Gml, by the propitious smiles 
of heaven and the particular countenance of 
my Lordship's Government, we keep above 
water, and, we thank God, have added to our 
churches." 

1706, April 7. Mr. Thomas writes : " I 
have by God's blessing advanced the number 
of my communicants from three to twenty- 
one, all of them rigid Dissenters, influenced 
against conformity to the Church by the 
strong bias of deep prejudice, inveteracy, and 
a contrary education. I have the prospect of 
a plentiful harvest among them, having al- 
ready waded, I hope, through the most for- 
midible difficulties." 

1707, April 22. Mr. Thomas writes that : 
" Common Prayer Books are very much want- 
ing to be given away, for though the people 
cannot be prevailed upon to buy, (were they 
to be sold), yet being given away, they might 
in time be brought to make use of them. My 
Lord Cornbury is very countenancing and as- 
sisting to me, and it is by an order from him 
that this building (a gallery in the church) 
gets forward. He is truly our very good 
friend : we want nothing that the countenance 
of Government can make us happy in." 



" The inhabitants of this county are gene- [ 
rally Independents, and what are not so are 
either Quakers or of no professed religion at , 
all. The generality are averse to the disci- 
pline of our Holy Mother the Church of Eng- 
land, and enraged to see her ministers estab- 
lished among them. Their prejudice of edu- ' 
cation is our misfortune, our Church their i 
bugbear, and to remove the averseness im- 
bibed with their first principles must be next 
to a miracle." 

1709. Mr. Thomas writes that "Though 
Hempstead had been settled above sixty 
years before my coming, and the people had 
some sort of Dissenting ministers, yet for 
above fifty-five years the sacrament had never 
been administered here. The oldest here 
could not remember to have seen or heard of 
its being celebrated." I have brought thirty- 
three to full commanion of the Church, though 
at the first time of administering I could per- 
suade but three to receive. The young grow 
up in miserable ignorance, and I can't cate- 
chise for want of a schoolmaster to teach chil- 
dren to read." 

1710, January 16. The Vestry pay to Job 
Bedell 10s. a year for beating the drum on 
Sundays and other Church days, and to Daniel 
Bedell 20s. for sweeping and cleaning the 
church, taking care of it, and opening and 
shutting the doors. 

1710, December 3. "Nothing new or very 
memorable since my last. All is well in my 
parish in general, and a happy continuance of 
mutual accord and affection between me and 
my parishioners." 

1712. Mr. Thomas writes to the Venerajjle 
Society that the children of Hempstead, for 
want of letters and education, are as wild, un- 
cultivated and unimproved as the soil was 
when their forefathers first had it, and re- 
quests that Mr. Thomas Gildersleeve be ap- 
pointed catechist and schoolmaster. The 
Society grant him £10 yearly to teach the 
poorer children (with several others) reading, 
writing and to cast accounts, at under 20s. 
yearly a head each. The Society also send 
paper for the use of the school. The Vestry 
write to the Venerable Society that : " With- 
out your bounty our children would have no 
education. Our people are poor and settled 
distantly from one another. 

1715, February 17. Mr. Thomas writes 
that: "The Church is in a tolerably thriving 
condition (how powerfully opposed by its ad- 



versaries, dissenters of all denominations,) 
chiefly through the prayer books sent by the 
Venerable Society, whose charity was well 
answered in that benefaction, consisting of 
two dozen prayer books, two dozen " Kings 
Inventions of Man," two dozen " Dean of St. 
Asaph's Faith and Practice of a Church of 
England Man," and one " London Cases 
Abridged." 

1716, July 21. " The earmark of Mr. John 
Thomas is a crop on each ear." So he seems 
to have kept creatures to graze on the Plains. 

1717, " I have been a considerable time in 
these parts, rowing against wind and tide ; 
first in Pennsylvania, against the Quakers, 
and here about twelve years, against rigid In- 
dependents. I have always observed that 
the pious fraud of a caressing, well-modeled 
hospitality has captivated and inclined their 
affections more powerfully than the best- 
digested discourses out of the pulpit." 

1718, October 1. Mr. Thomas writes: 
" The people did not know it to be their duty 
to communicate, having never heard it so 
stated, nor seen the sacrament administered 
in any way whatever : nor indeed had it ever 
been administered, according to the testimony 
of the oldest inhabitants, at any time since 
the settlement of the town, till my arrival, 
embracing a period of more than half a cen- 
tury of j'ears." 

1720, February 17. Mr. Thomas thanks 
the Society for some books which have had a 
very good influence on many of the most 
thinking and solder part of the people. 

1722, April 20. Mr. Thomas writes : " My 
last summer's sickness has produced a small 
Dissenting meeting house in one part of my 
parish, [Fosters Meadow], but I thank God it 
is only the scum that is concerned in it ; the 
people of figure and sub.stance being entirely 
of the Church's side. This seems a great fe- 
licity to me, who at my first coming among 
them found not three persons in the whole 
compass of the parish any way addicted to the 
Church, but all of them to the bitterest de- 
gree prejudiced against it. It is the opinion 
of my best friends that if God will be pleased 
to enable me with health and strength to go 
on in my duty, this novel meeting and place, 
like another phantom, will soon disappear 
and come to nothing. The cat in the fable, 
transformed to a woman, could not at the 
sight of a mouse forget her ancient nature ; 
so it is with some of these people." 



6 



1723, February 21. Mr. Thomas witliin 
eighteen months has baptized at least one 
hundred and sixty, many of whom adults. 
He inculcates in the people a sense of the 
benefit and privileges of the sacraments, and 
finds them in the main convinced of the 
wholesomeuess and necessity of these ordi- 
nances. 

1734, October 1. " Pray, Good Sir, give 
my humble duty to the Honorable Society, 
and assure them of my utmost fidelity in my 
mission as far as lame limbs and a decrepid 
state of health will permit. My heart is 
warm and sound, though lodged, God knows, 
in a crazy, broken carcase. Pray, tell them 
that like Epaminondas I shall fight upon the 
stumps for that purest and best of Churches 
as long as God indulges me with the ieast 
ability to do it." 

1737, February 16. "A gratuity of £.jO is 
voted by the Venerable Society to the widow 
of the late Rev. Mr. Thomas, missionaiyat 
Hempstead, in consideration of his long and 
faithful services, upwards of twenty years." 

Mr. Thomas' will was made March 17, 1734, 
and proved October 38, 1726. He gives his 
wife Margaret the management of his farm 
in Harrison's Purchase, Westchester County. 
He leaves a son John* [born October 2:3, 1708,] 
and two daughters, Margaret and Gloriana. 
His wife, his brother-in-law Edmund Smith, 
Cayjtain Jonn Tredwell and John Cornell of 
Kockaway, are the executors. The witnesses 
are Jeremiah Bedell, Elias Dorlin and William 
Willis. Tne last is probably the writer of 
the will. He had an undated codicil as to the 
disposition of his negro boy Plato. The wit- 
nesses to it were Katharine Cock, John Mor- 
ris and Ephraim Golding. 

Mr. Thomas appears to have married Mar- 
garet Floyd, of Brookhaven, who was born 
April 35, 1690. Edmund Smith married her 
sister Susanna. 

In 1706 Queen Anne gave the church a silk 
carpet for the communion table, a silver chal- 
ice and paten, a pulpit cloth, a large Bible, a 
Common Prayer, and book of Homilies. 

The church into which Mr. Thomas was 
inducted was described, in 1738, as " An ordi- 
nary wooden building, forty feet long and 
twenty-six wide, the roof covered with cedar 
shingles and the sides clapboarded with oak. 

* John Thomas married Abigail Sands, a Quakeress, 
daughter of John Sands, living at the bottom of Cow 
Neck, February 19, 1729, and lived at the Purchase. 



Within, it is not ceiled overhead, but the 
sides are boarded with pine. There is no 
pulpit, but a raised desk only, having a cloth, 
and cushion of silk. A large table stands 
before the desk, where the justices and lead- 
ing men sit when they come to church. 
There are no pews except one for the Govern- 
or's Secretary, Mr. George Clarke. The rest 
of the church is filled with open benches. 
There is no fence around it, and the burial 
l>lace is at some distance from it. It stands 
in the open road near a small brook which 
runs between it and the parsonage house." 

1734, February 19. The Society receive 
petitions from a great part of the inhabitants 
of Brookhaven for a minister of the Church 
of England, which they have been destitute 
of hitherto, of whom there is great necessity. 
While Mr. Wetmore, catechist, of New York, 
was at Brookhaven, he baptized two adults 
and seventeen children. At Easter he had 
eight communicants, since which five more 
have been added. In which place a consider- 
able number of the better sort are brought 
over to the Church, and there is a prospect of 
gaining the whole town if a sober, prudent 
minister was settled among them. 

1735, February 18. Mr. Thomas Standard 
is appointed missionary to Brookhaven, at 
£50 a year salary. 



1735, May 35. Governor Burnet signs a 
mandate for the induction of Rev. Robert 
Je/iney as rector of the parish of Hempstead. 

1736, February 17. £10 per year is granted 
to Mr. Daniel Denton, of Oysterbay, for teach- 
ing poor children to read and in.structing 
them in the catechism. 

1737, The Society grant £50 gratuity to 
Widow Thomas, in consideration of her hus- 
band's long and faithful services, upwards of 
twenty years. 

1737, March 37. Mr. Jenney's ear-mark is a 
crop on the off ear and a slit in the end of the 
near ear and a nick under it. 

1737, May 1. Mr. Jenney writes that he 
baptized (in 1736) eleven persons, whereof 
two were adults and one negro infant slave 
of his own, and has admitted six to the sacra- 
ment, all persons of piety and strict honesty, 
one a negro slave who has all along preserved 
his character unblemished. 



1728, February 21. Mr. Jenney, since his 
last, has baptized eight adults and twenty- 
four infants, two of whom neorro slaves. He 
has one negro communicant, and his own 
two negroes were baptized in their infancy, 
and shall be carefully instructed while he 
hath them. 

1728, February 21. Daniel Denton reports 
about twenty nine scholars whom he teaches, 
with success, and that he likewise teaches to 
read and instructs in the Church catechism 
three negroes as often as they can get time to 
come to him. 

1728, June 27. Mr. Jenney writes that 
"The Church's right to all this (the parson- 
age, &c.,) is hotly disputed, and I am often 
threatened with an ejectment, (1) by the heirs 
of one Ogden, from whom the purchase was 
made; (3) by the Presbyterians, who plead, 
from the purchase having been made by them 
before any church was settled here, and from 
their minister having been long in possession 
of it, that it belongs to them ; (o) by the Qua- 
kers, who are a great body of people, and 
argue that it belongs to them, and ought to 
be hired out from time to time, as the major 
part of the freeholders can agree. The body 
of the Presbyterians live here in the town 
spot, but they are so poor and few that it is 
with difficulty they can maintain their minis- 
ter, and we daily expect he' will leave them." 

1729, February 20. Mr. Jenney writes that 
he preaches every Sunday morning and cate- 
chises, and reads lectures on the catechism 
every Sunday afternoon — every third Sun- 
day at Oysterbay, and the other two at Hemp- 
stead, at both which places he has an encour 
aging number of hearers. He has baptized, 
the last half year, in Hempstead, one woman, 
eighteen children, and two'hegro children. 

The Society grant to Mr. Campbell, mission- 
ary at Brookhaven, £60. 

1731, February 18. £70 to Mr. Campbell, 
missionary at Brookhaven. £10 each to Gil- 
dersleeve and Denton. 

1782, February 16. £10 to Mr. [Thomas] 
Keeble, schoolmaster at Oysterbay. £I0 to 
Mr. Davies, missionary at South Hampton. 

1733, February 15. £10 each to Mr. Kee- 
ble and Davies, and £60 to Mr. Brown, mis- 
sionary at Brookhaven. 

1734, June 3. Mr. Jenney writes the Soci- 
ety that he proceeds in the performance of his 
duty with success, both at Hempstead and 
Oysterbay. In Hempstead his congregation 



is so much increased that the old church can- 
not contain it, and therefore the people have 
come to the resolution to build a new one, and 
es])ecially as the old church is not worth en- 
larging. They have already made great 
progress in the work, and raised a frame of 
timber fifty feet long and thirty six feet wide, 
with a steeple, and hope to finish it so as to 
be fit for service by September next. It is 
fitted with galleries and will be able to hold 
the congregation conveniently. He baptized, 
in 1733, twenty-six children and two adults. 

1734, April 29. Rev. Isaac Brown, mis- 
sionary at Brookhaven, writes that he arrived 
at his parish December 14th last, where he 
hath continued to perform Divine service 
twice every Lord's day. He has good reason 
to believe the church is in a growing state, 
and that many dissenters who had a dislike 
to the Common Prayer are come into a good 
liking of it. He wishes some Common Prayer 
Books sent him to disperse among the poorer 
people who are not able to buy. He has dis- 
tributed almost all the small tracts the So- 
ciety sent him, which were received thank- 
fully by the people. 

The church wardens and vestry of Caroline 
Church, in Brookhaven, return thanks to the 
Society for sending Mr. Brown there, agreea- 
ble to their request. They find him well 
qualified for the work he is engaged in. 
They contribute £16, New York currency, 
towards his better support, and promise to 
advance their subscriptions as soon as they 
have finished the church they are now build- 
ing. 

1735, February 20. Mr. Jenney proceeds 
with success in the duties of his mission : 
preaches two Sundays at Hempstead and every 
third Sunday at Oysterbay. At Hempstead, 
where he resides, he has a numerous congre- 
gation when the weather permits ; but many 
live very far from the church, and cannot, 
without great inconvenience and some danger, 
attend in very bad weather. The people are 
building a new church, the old one being too 
small and also ruinous. Governor Cosby en- 
couraged and promoted the work very much. 
The church is named St. George's, and was 
accordingly opened on that day with Divine 
service ; on which occasion His Excellency 
and a great number of ladies and gentlemen 
were present. The building is fifty feet long 
besides the steeple, and thirty-six feet wide. 
The steeple is fourteen feet square. It has a 



8 



spire and gilded ball about one liuudred feet 
from the ground. The pitch of the ceiling 
within is about twentj'-three feet. It is a 
timber frame covered with cedar shingles; it 
is partly pewed already and soon will be com- 
pletely pewed. The congregation is very nu- 
merous, and there are many poor people of it. 
They very much want Common Prayer Books, 
as not being able to purchase. Several of 
these poor people have been with him beg- 
ging books, and some negroes, too, who can 
read, were very desirous of having them ; and 
lie wishes more sent him. Since his last ac- 
count he has baptized thirty two, whereof one 
adult and one child were negro slaves; of the 
thirty remaining, eight were adults and the 
rest children. 

1735, February 20. Mr. Brown, of Brook- 
haven, writes that he takes diligent care of 
his parish ; six have been added to his com- 
municants, and he has baptized fifteen infants. 
He has lately preached two sermons at South- 
old, fifty miles distant eastwards, where he 
had upwards of one hundred hearers, well- 
disposed persons. 

Erection of a New Church. 

1734. April 2. John Mott and Thomas Gil- 
dersleeve, by order of the town, set apart half 
an acre for a new church, west of the old one. 
The carpenter gave the vestry a scantling of 
the timber. Anthony Yelverton, the head 
workman on the church, had 4s. Gd. a day 
and found. He boarded at Richard Bedell's. 
His apprentices had, some 4s., some 2s. per 
day. Joseph Hall, Sr., worked with the car 
penters, at 48. 3d. a day and found himself. 
His sons, Joseph, Benjamin and John also 
assisted. 

At first the church was only half pewed ; 
there were eighteen pews, presumably square ; 
No. 1 was given to George C'larke, Secretary 
to the Governor, who lived at Hyde Park and 
was a benefactor to the church. 

1734, November 1. At a town meeting the 
majority voted to move the seats out of the 
old church into the new. 

Consecration op St. George's Chttrch. 

1735. On Tuesday, April 23, His Excel- 
lency our Governor, with his lady and family, 
attended by his son-in-law and lady, Secretary 
Clarke, Chief Justice Delancey, Rev. Mr. Ve- 
say, some of the clergy, and a great many of 
the principal merchants and gentlemen and 



ladies of the city of New York, set out for 
Hempstead, to be present at the consecration 
of the church lately erected there. About six 
miles west of Jamaica he was met by the 
troops of horse, who escorted him to Jamaica, 
where a handsome dinner was provided for 
all the company. In the afternoon he pro- 
ceeded to Hempstead, (escorted as before), 
where he arrived in the evening, and was en- 
tertained in a very handsome manner by the 
Rev. Robert Jenney, minister of that place. 

The next day, being St. George's Day, the 
regiment of militia and troop being drawn up 
on either side, from Mr. Jenney's house to the 
church. His Excellency, attended by the most 
considerable gentlemen of the county, walked 
to the church, where a very excellent sermon 
was preached on the occasion, before a most 
crowded audience, by the Rev. Mr. Jenney, 
from Psalm Ixxxiv, 1,2: " How amiable are 
Thy tabernacles," &c. 

After Divine service His Excellency re- 
viewed the regiment of militia and troops 
standing under arms, and expressed a partic- 
ular satisfaction on the appearance both of the 
officers and men. His excellency was after- 
wards entertained in a splendid manner by 
Colonel Tredwell, commander of the regi- 
ment, and in the evening by Colonel Corn- 
well, of Rockaway, in the same manner. 

The next day the Governor returned, and 
arrived in town in good health, pleased with 
the reception he everywhere met with from 
all ranks, with the extraordinary concourse 
of people from all parts on the occasion, and 
with the handsome appearance of the militia, 
both horse and foot. — Neic York Gazette. 

A generous collection was made for the 
church on this occasion. The Governor gave 
the King's arms," painted and gilded ; Secre- 
tary Clarke, a crimson damask set of furniture 
for the communion-table, pulpit and desk ; 
and John Marsh a silver basin for baptism. 
The Rev. Mr. Vesey and his people had 
already contributed about £50. 

1735, June 27. Name of petitioners for the 
charter of the church : 

IJev. Robert Jenney. Rector, 
James Albertiis, Robert Marvin, 

George Biilden, Jacamiah Mitchell, 

Gerhardus Clowes, Clerk Joseph Mott, 

of Vestry. 
William Cornel l.Sr.& Jr.. 
John Cornell, Jr., 
John Cornell. 
Richard Cornell, Jr., 
William Cornell, 
Thomas Cornell, Jr., 



Charles Peters, 
James Pine, Sr., 
John Roe. 
Micah Smith, 
Peter Smith, Jr., 
Timothy Smith, 
Peter Smith, 



Isaac Germon, Jacob Smith. ' 

Thomas Gildersleeve, Joseph Smith, 

(}eors:e Gildersleeve, Silas Smith, 

Daniel Hewlett, Kobert Sutton, 

James Hugins, Richard Thome. Esq., i 

Joseph Langdon, Joseph Thome, Esq., i 

William Langdon, Thomas Williams. 
Thomas Lee, 

The Governor, July 23d, presented His 
Majesty's Royal Charter of Incorporation, by ' 
the name of the " Rector and inhabitants of 
the parish of Hempstead, in communion of 
the Church of England as by law established." 

1735-6. Thomas Jecocks was clerk and 
sexton, at 3o8. a year. 

Mr. Jenney writes (May 5, 1737.) that he 
has received the box of Common Prayer Books 
and has distributed them where he thought 
them most wanted, and received for the Soci- 
ety humble thanks from every one of the re- 
ceivers of them. He baptized within the last 
year thirty-two, viz.: three adults (one a 
negro man slave) and twenty-nine infants. 

1737 to 1745, Daniel Patrean was clerk for 
setting the Psalms. 

John Marsh left the church a legacy of 
£100 : £25 of it was given for a bell ; the rest 
of the money went toward repairing the 
church, house and yard fence. 

1737, November 14. Mr. Keeble writes 
from Oysterbay that he has twenty seven 
scholars under his care, and has received the 
Society's present of catechisms, and returns 
his humble thanks. 

1738, March 25. Mr. Jenney writes that 
the year 1737 has offered nothing remarkable 
in his parish. He baptized thirty-five, of 
whom five were adults and one a young negro 
slave. He officiates, as usual, two Sundays at 
Hempstead and the third at Oysterbay. At 
Hempstead he has a large congregation, when 
weather permits, the larger part of his flock 
living a great way from the church, many of 
them twelve or thirteen miles; but at Oyster- 
bay he meets not with the same encourage- 
ment, owing, as he supposes, to the want of a 
resident missionary among them. 

1738, May 24. Rev. Isaac Brown, mission- 
ary at Brookhaven, writes from Boston that 
he reads prayers and preaches twice every 
Sunday in his parish, and diligently performs 
the other duties of his function. In his jour- 
ney towards Boston he read prayers at Shelter 
Island, where, as far as he could learn, the 
service of the Church of England had never 
been performed, and almost all the inhabit- 
ants came to it ; and there he baptized a man 



more than thirty years old and three of hi* 
children, and has baptized in his own parish 
twelve infants in the preceeding half year, 
and will always make it the study of his life 
to promote the interests of religion to the 
utmost of his abilities. 

1739, September 23. Rev. Isaac Brown 
assures the Society that he continues diligent 
in the care of his parish and steadily performs 
Divine service twice every Sunday ; but he 
has some reason to fear that enthusiasm is 
creeping into it, chiefly by means of Barclay's 
Apology for the Quakers, which hath lately 
been sent over and industriously sjtread among 
the people, who seem (many of them) but too 
well pleased with the book, which is given 
out among the Quakers to be an unanswera- 
ble piece. 

£10 each are granted to Messrs. Gilder- 
sleeve and Keeble, schoolmasters. 

1739. Money paid for pews: Daniel Kis- 
sam, £11 ; Justice Lewis Hewlett. £12 ; Henry 
Allen, £13; John Hewlett, £5 ; Daniel Hew- 
lett, £5. 

1739—45. Thomas Jones was sexton, at 35s. 
a year. 

1740. John Rowland finished the steeple 
and arched it from post to post. 

1740, April 21. Mr. Jenney writes that he 
proceeds carefully in his duty, and has a very 
encouraging congregation. He has baptized 
within the half year twenty persons, of whom 
two are adults and ten negro children. He 
recommends and transmits a petition of the 
inhabitants of Hempstead, that Mr. Thomas 
Temple* be appointed schoolmaster there in 
place of Mr. Gildersleeve, deceased. Mr. Tem- 
ple is well qualified, and has taught school 
many years in the neighborhood, with a good 
character. 

1741. Mr. Jenney went to England. 
Jenney was born in Ireland, 1688, educated 

at Trinity College, Dublin, ordained priest 
1710, and was chaplain in the navy till 1714, 
when he became an assistant in Christ Church, 
Philadelphia, and in 1715 in Trinity Church, 
New York. From 1717 to 1722, he was chap- 
lain in the Fort at New York ; then rector of 
the church at Rye, whence, in 1725, he came 

* In 17:31, Mr. Temple was schoolmaster at Jamaica. 
From 17:39 to 1753 he was employed in Hempstead. In 
1744, he married Isabella Thorne. and in 1753 the 
Widow Denton. In 1756 we find him in the alms- 
house. In 1706 Mr. Alexander Baird was licensed by 
Lord Cornbury to teach a school [at Fosters Meadow] 
in Hempstead. 



10 



to Hempstead, wliere his wife (Sarah) died, en 
Christmas. l7oS. In 1742. he was chosen rec- 
tor of Christ Chnrch. Philadelphia, where he 
died Januarv 5, 1762. childless. His second 
wife I Joanna Elizabeth) survived him onlv six 
days. He had a fit of the dead palsy, and for 
over five years, owing to his great bodily in- 
disposition, was allowed an assistant in his 
ministrations. 



17-12. December 7. The province of Xew 
York is troubled from Methodism and the 
Xew Light, in which a deep tincture of enthu- 
siasm appeared, which has induced many 
serious-thinking dissenters there also to come 
to OUT Chnrch to worship God in sobriety and 
truth. Dr. Jenney is removed by the Lord 
Bishop of London to Philadelphia, and the 
churchwardens and vestry have called Rev. 
Mr. Seabury. missionary at Xew London, to 
be their minister, in virtue of a law of the 
province, and he has accepted, on condition 
that it be approved by the Society, which Mr. ; 
Vesey recommends, as it will very much con- 1 
tribute to the peace and edification of the I 
good people at Hempstead. ] 

114.2. December 10. Bev. Samuel Seabury ' 
was inducted as rector by the Rev. Mr. Col- 
gan, of Jamaica. Mr. Jenney having resigned 
on ;?\ ovember 26ih. 

Mr. Seabury had been a Congregational 
minister : but having doubts of the validity 
of his ordination, he conformed and went to 
England to obtain orders at the hands of the 
Bishop of London. He took the following 
letter to the Secretary of the Society : 

BosTos. 3oD Maech, IT^iW. 

Sib : — This -waits upon the Sociery in the hand? of 
one Mr. Seabnrr. a person who npon rme aud regrilar 
coETicnon is oome into the bosom of our excellenr 
Ctureh, and now hnmblr desires a Mission from the 
Socierr in her service. 

Mr acquaintance with him is earlier than my own 
Mission, and I have had farther opportunity of in- 
forming myself of him from the Dissenters among 
whom he has preached, and I find everything in favor 
of his sobriety and good conduct, for which reason he 
haih my ardent wishes of success in tliis afljair, and 
my intercessions for him to the Society, with the 
deepest humility and resj>e>ct due from their and your 
obedient. <fcc.. <fcc., T'tmotht Cctler. 

1742. December 27. At a town meeting, 
by major vote. Jeremiah Bedell. John Hall 
and John Dorland are appointed to take care 
and charge of our old church or town house. 



to secure it from any farther damage, and to 
prosecute those who have pulled and carried 
away a greater part of it. 

1744, February 17. Rev. Mr. Brown sends 
an account of the increase of his congregation. 

1745, February 21. Mr. James Lyons, a 
laborious and diligent itinerant missionary in 
Connecticut, was removed by the Society to 
Brof^khaven. and granted £50. 

1746, March 26 and September 30. Mr. 
Seabury writes that the Churcn manifestly 
gets ground in the esteem of the people, but 
that it is with great dilEculty that they are 
brought to the sacrament of the Lords Sup- 
per. However, he had gained two new com- 
municants within the last half year, and has 
baptized many adults, after proper instruction, 
as well as a great many children, both white 
and black, (viz.: forty-six children and eight 
adults), within the preceeding year. It would 
be a gentiine work of charity to put Common 
Prayer Books and Catechisms into the hands 
of such as are capable of properly using them, 
the better to enable them to join in the public 
worship. 

The Society will send some books immedi- 
ately.* 

1747, July 30. The vestry agree to relieve 
James Wood, the clerk, from service in the 
train-bands. 

In 174S, Mr. Seabury informed the Society 
that " at Huntington a considerable number 
of people had conformed and built a church 
for the worship of God according to the lit- 
urgy of the Church of England ; that he had 
frequently officiated there, and at their re- 
quest his son Samuel read prayers and ser- 
tnons for them, under his direction. He re- 
quested that his son be appointed catechist, 
with some small allowance.'" 

The Society grant him £10 a year. 

1748, February 17. £10 are allowed to Mr. 
Samuel Seabury, catechist at Huntington. 
£10 are allowed to Thomas Temple, school- 
master at Hempstead. 

1749, September. Henry Lloyd started & 
subscription, by giving £145, toward building 
a church at Huntington. £5 were paid John 
Davis for the site. 

1750, June 14. Christ Chnrch, at Oyster- 
bay, was dedicated. 

* These i^rayer Books proved of great benefit to the 
younger people, who were instructed and made their 
responses regularly at chnrch. so that Divine service 
J was performed with more knowledge and decency. 



11 



1751, AogTist 19. A gallery is to be puE in bat &t OvsEerbar pmblSe aeedaffs *r& luiM- 

Hempei*^ charch, on soath and west aides, plied, and ire ireqneBtly hdi by nif!!^ by a 

1751. Aa^oat: 19. Sabecripiicms for aeetinar aeeu callei Separaxe AnabapcKS, ae di^ are 



Joseph KiiHHK, 
JofaaBrovB, 

1 James Wood, 

i SdBsel SeaboTT, 

2 iaieab Jnhaaon. 
I.M) Semie! Pm^e. 

I VafesGae H. Pewrs, 



a.» 



ehieftj m^e ap by a aepaxaskm fni^ tfae did 
Anabaptiscc. wboee ^^^ib^ a£ Oy atfet b^ is 
w^l Bigh bcok^ op by tb^ sepaixtsos, "wiaA. 
faatk BO settled teaeker. ba£ is fteqaeBsIy t^ 
ti;ed by traTeim^ ooes. He had 
thirty-one cfctkLreB. and tMrte^^': ' 
i.ialts in tlie preeeedingr twelve ; 
n. umber cc _/ - ' - ^ - - 

I75y. 1 - ■ 



T ^^^^ TT^ 



P-jier 






a gallery : 

Tjvr.i A"l2&j. £10 

J -i.:- Mi-:;::. M 

Ri^-ir-i T^ivr::-. 5 

T,^^-- F •-•■<-- § 
B-rr-;i:i;- Hr-v^e: 

/.":: Pe:er-7 

Egbert Xarrin, 3 

Joseph Kissam amd Benjamin Hewl 
pied pew No. 10. 

17->j. ilareh. 25. Mr. Seabnry writes that vent a ' 
the increase of the conorre^auion at Hemp- 17^ 
stead had broa^ht them to a resolation ofaret.: 
erecting galleries in the charch. which were congr- _ 
then almost completed, and his commnnicatnis 17*^ 1 - ' - 

had increased to seventy-eight. he ha- : - - _ ■ 

1755. Febrnary 21. Mr. Seabsiry writes i adalts to 
that the Cuoreh in the province of Xew York. 'Jz--- - — ' 
is truly militant, being eontinoally artacfced ; 
on one side or the other: sometimesbythe Ren;:~-ei: - tz 
enemies of Revelation, at other times by the preacher, ari in 
wild enthusiasts: but in the midst of them: Separate Baptis" 
irue religion gains ground, and his churches The church i 
of Hemp'Siead. Ovsterbay and Huntington are attend but seldcm. > 
crowded in got>i weather. cos members alwaj^ 

1756. April 19. Mr. Seabury writes that minister. 
his parish in general is in a gixrd stare, and At Hem^ptstead ar^ * - 
at the request of the petjple of Duchess Coonty namber of aduirs 

he had made them a vist. staid six davs and :— =-- 

preached four times to large assemblies. - 1 - 

1756-S. Miss Millicent Betts ijccupied half : n-.^. ~e-e:i:7-:-^ 

of Xo. 1. . . Zn:^Iind. sevez 

1757. May 31. £1 a year for the pa!=t year. Ti^e rest ire dis?en:-=r?. exie;; i rU* 
and 25s. a year for next year, is allowed to 17'52, Mirrl C ' ^^r >eabary writes tli^ 
Xewpjrt. the sexton, i probably Mr. Seabury's under Gr-i : t happy astz^n£B< 

slave), for sweeping and keeping the church in hringir r - ' apasHi. vbo a& ap- 

clean, and for his service on Sundays in ring- peared pror-er.j a3=cted on theoeeaam. Oae 



Seabury wrixes thas 

-^- - bring sevt^al 

es wiH adorn 

. _ IS well glled, 

ysterbay. though 

^-th an Independent 

■baj Anabaptisc and 

- ire eotiSEantly heid. 

_""" "^h^^^ he caa 



Its : tiie 

rar was 

- " iren 



ing the belL He is to demand 2s. for tolling 
a funeral belx. 

1757. Jaeob Johnson is to build anew the zi ~: 
fence around the church. _ - - 

175S. April 1-5. Mr. Seafcurv. Sr.. inf<»ms ^ 
the Society that he had extended his misHon : j 
and taken I*uches5 Countr onder lus care. 



of them in rarticolar. Jceeph C hccgcaH aiL. de- 
clared pabliclj "I:ai it was aft^ etresMJarfng 



an»i - _ 
He - - 

y^LT. thir:; 
17S2- S- 

that he - 



:h* 

r ' — _;uca 
his wife 



He had visited them, four times aad peached 
to very crowded audiences. 

1759. April 5. Mr. Seabozy liad latelv 
visited Duchess County aad fbaad tbem at- 
tentive to Divine worship. The war pievHits County, wn-. - 
them from pr'j'viding means for a missionary, very crowded 

1759. April 5. Mr. Seabury writes that at dajs. " " 
Hempstead no other place is kept up for pub- tizee 
lie worship except a Quaker's nii^CiBg boose : has also j rii.:.^^i :^o Sondajs to the pesfje 



aseenUies. and three week 
-s of the o?uncy.and bap- 
_:rtv-three cMIdi^L He 



r 



of Huntington, whose application for a mis- 
sionary lie begs leave to reconunend. The 
people of Huntington, as appears by their 
own petition and letters from Dr. Johnson 
and others, liave already erected an edifice for 
the worship of God according to the liturgy 
of the Church of England, and purchased a 
valuable house and glebe worth about £200, 
New York currency, which they are ready to 
make a conveyance of for the use of the 
church at Huntington forever, hoping to have 
leave, within a year or two, to send over a 
candidate for holy orders. 

Mr. Seabury adds that his own people con- 
tinue to attend Divine service in great num- 
bers, and as usual at Oysterbay, where one of 
the Separate Anabaptist assemblies is broken 
up and their credit with the people much de- 
clined. He has baptized, this half year, two 
adults and fifty-three children, making in the 
whole, since he came into the mission, one 
thousand and thirty-two baptisms. 

17G3, April ^10. Mr. Ebenezer Kneeland, 
late catechist at Flushing, has undertaken, 
with the advice of Mr. Seabury, Sr., the office 
of reader at Huntington. [Mr. Kneeland died 
in April, 1777.] 

1764, February 17. In Huntington, which 
Dr. Johnson recommends for a mission, there 
are about forty families ; and if Oysterbay was 
annexed, thirty or forty more; but on the 
south side of Long Island, to which they ex- 
tend, there are not less than one hundred who 
have no teacher of any sort. ADMISSION AND INSTITUTION. 

The number of inhabitants of Hempstead is I, Sir Henry Moore. Baronet. Captain-General and 

six thousand, of whom seven hundred and i ^^"^'^""""""-'^"'"'^^ '" """^ °^''^'' ^'^^ Province of New 
„. ,. ,, , ,. , ^, , r X-, i York and the territories depending thereon, in Aiuer- 

fifty profess themselves of the Church of Eng- , .^,^ chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same. * * 
land ; the remainder are dissenters, except a ; * * have Admitted our beloved in Christ, Leonard 
very few heathens and Indians. Mr. Seabury j Cutting, clersrymau. to the Rectory of the Parish and 
baptized, within the year, three adults and|P""*h Ch"''cli »f Hempstead, in Queens County, to 
.,.,.... ^ , ■ . ^, ,1 . which he was presented by the Church-Wardens and 

thirty six infants, makinff in the who e, since i„ . ., . i ^ u» i . pa 

•' '^ ' Vestrvmen, the true and undoubted patrons of said 

he came into this mission, one thousand and ! parish vacant, it is said, by the natural death of Sam- 
eeventy-one ; and his communicants are sixty- ; uel Seabury, the last incumbent there; * * * * 
three. At his request, a number of Comtiion ' ""fl Have Instituted him into the Rectory of said 

r)„ ...... -D 1. » 4. 1 J- i -1 .„^ ' Parish Church and Parish, with all their rights, mem- 

Frayer liooks were sent to be distributed i , , ^ ■ . , ^ 

•' bers and appurtenances, observing the laws and canons 

among the poor. 



The vestry beg the Society to consider them 
still in the number of their missions, and to 
permit them to look out for some proper 
person to succeed their late worthy minister. 
In the meantime Mr. Seabury, of Jamaica, 
promises to give them all the assistance in 
his power. 

1765, October 1. Mr. Seabury writes that 
the parish of Hempstead being vacant bj the 
death of his father, he has been obliged some- 
times to leave his own people to assist in 
supplying that mission, where he has baptized 
ten children. 

Tlie church wardens and vestry have called 
Mr. Cutting, (who was licensed by the Bishop 
of London, December 21, 1763), and petitioned 
the Society that he be removed thither ; but 
his removal from New Brunswick, being at- 
tended with some difficulty,, is not yet deter- 
mined. 

1765, February 15. £10 are allowed Mr. E. 
Kneeland, catechist at Huntington. £50 
are granted to Mr. James Lyons, missionary 
at Brookhaven. 

Mr. Seabury has taken one journey to Islip, 
preached there, on a week day, to a large con- 
gregation, and baptized four white children, 
and one negro adult and five negro children. 



1764, June 18. Cloth is to be bought for a 
funeral pall for the church. 

1764, July 12. Rev. Samuel Seabury, of 
Jamaica, acquaints the Society with the death 
of his father, at Hempstead, by whose death 
that laborious and extensive parish is become I Timothy Smith, James Wood, John Peters, 
vacant, and a very large congregation of George Watts, James Turner, Leffert Haga- 
decent and well-behaved people left desti- wout, George Ryerson, Adam Seabury, Cor- 
tute. ! nelius Van Ostrandt and others. 



of right iu that behalf requiring to be observed. * * 
Given the 24th day of July Anno Domini. 17e6. 

H. MOORE. 

1766, August 11. Rev. Leonard Cutting 
was inducted rector by the Rev. Samuel Sea- 
bury, of Jamaica, in presence of Daniel Kissam, 



13 



1767-74. The salary of Jonathan Gilder- 
sleeve, sexton, is raised from 27s. a year to £2. 

1767, April 9. Mr. Cutting, from Hemp- 
stead, with pleasure acquaints the Society 
that his people testify their gratitude for the 
continuance of the missionaries amonir them, 
by endeavoring to render their missionaries' 
situation in every respect easy and comforta- 
ble. Their church is in general well filled, 
and persons of different denominations are 
very frequent in their attendance, and behave 
devoutly. There are in Hempstead about 
eighty or ninety families, professed members 
of the Church of England, beside the Dutch, 
who are numerous and declare their regard 
for it. Numbers of adults have applied to 
him concerning baptism, whom he hopes soon 
to convince of the sacredness and expediency 
of that holy institution. 

1768, January 7. Mr. Cutting writes that 
his new mission is a large one. He thinks 
the people of his parish to be civil, hospitable 
and grateful, and mentions one act of their 
gratitude, in building a house, at their own 
expense, for the widow of their late worthy 
missionary. His church is large and in gen 
eral full. The spot where he lives is sur- 
rounded with Presbyterians, who are kind 
and obliging neighbors, sober and pious in 
their conversation, and averse to religious 
animosities. Great numbers remain unbap- 
tized, owing to the principles of Quakerism 
which prevailed there so long. To the south 
of Hempstead are many inhabitants who are 
willing to be instructed and among whom he 
frequently officiates on week days ; but being 
a very indigent people they have not the abil- 
ity to get their children instructed, nor indeed 
the opportunity, there being no schoolmaster, 
which he thinks would be a real blessing in 
those parts. The Society, being of the same 
opinion, have desired Mr. Cutting to acquaint 
them at what place he wished a school to be 
fixed ; and if he can procure a worthy and fit 
man, he has their leave to employ him. 

At Oysterbay the church (which still re- 
mains unfinished) is in general well filled 
■with constant, serious and devout people, but 
not equal in numbers to those of other de- 
nominations. 

Since April he has at Hempstead baptized 
four adults and twenty-seven children, and 
admitted two new communicants. 

1770, February 19. Mr. Cutting, in a sec- 
ond letter sent within the year, has observed 



that there are in Hempstead eighty or ninety 
families. The new school to the south of 
Hempstead was opened June 22, 1769, by Mr. 
William Leaky, who had before taught in 
several places with a good character, and the 
Society have accordingly appointed him, with 
a grant of £10. Mr. Leaky left in 1771, hav- 
ing found a more profitable school. 

Mr. James Greaton is appointed missionary 
at Huntington, with an allowance of £40. He 
was licensed January 28, 1760, by the Bishop 
of London. 

1773, January 13. Mr. Greaton's account 
of his mission at Huntington was a very ac- 
ceptable one to the Society. They lament his 
death, which has since happened, and the cir- 
cumstances of his family, which have been 
represented to them as necessitous. 

1773, Died, April 17, at Huntington, after 
a short illness, (said to be attended with fits), 
the Rev. Mr. James Greaton, Episcopal min- 
ister at that place, and formerly of Christ 
Church, Boston. 

1774, December 29. Last Sunday sennit, at 
Huntington, B. Y. Prime, M. D., was married 
to the amiable Mrs. Mary, [Wheelwright], 
relict of the Rev. James Greaton. 

1775, February 17. Mr. Cutting lives on 
very amicable terms with the dissenters. In 
the course of the year he has baptized thirty- 
six children and seven adults, and admitted 
six men communicants. He hath at last 
found out a person (Mr. John Lefferts, a per- 
son of character,) to undertake the school 
erected by the Society to the south of Hemp- 
stead, and upon his recommendation the Soci- 
ety have appointed him schoolmaster, with 
the usual salary, £10. 

1775, February 17. A petition hath very 
lately been received from the churchwardens, 
vestry and professors of the Church in Hunt- 
ington, Brookhaven, Islip and Queens Village, 
requesting the appointment of a missionary 
in the room of their late worthy pastor, Mr. 
Greaton, with the former allowance from the 
Society, to which they hope they shall be able 
to add £20 ; but the Society, considering the 
proposed subscription as insufficient, nor prop- 

[ erly engaged for on the part of the petition- 
ers, have thought it advisable for the present 
to postpone the application. 

1776, January 9. Mr. Cutting says that 
Mr. Lefferts continued but a quarter of a year 
at his school, and that he hath no encourage- 
ment to attempt a supply of the vacancy. 



14 



This cliurch continues in its usual state. He 
has baptized thirty-three children and eight 
adults, and admitted five new communicants. 

Owing to the general disturbance in the 
Colonies, the Society say the accounts are 
short and imperfect. 

1777, January 6. The Society have re- 
ceived one letter from Mr. Cutting, whence 
they learn that his church at Hempstead had 
escaped better than was expected, but that he 
was obliged to shut it up for three Sundays 
before the arrival of the King's troops, and 
that in the foregoing year he had not attended 
at Huntington, thinking it not advisable to 
go out of his own parish. Since his last he 
has baptized one negro child and twenty-five 
whites, and five white adults and one negro 
woman. 

1779. John Van Nostrand was clerk, at £5 
per year, with the vestry's thanks for past 
services. 

1779. LefFert Hagawout, treasurer, reported 
that he had £8 in paper (which was worth- 
less) and £25 in gold and silver. 

1779, September 30. Rev. Mr. William 
Walter, a refugee from Boston, writes: "I 
have visited Huntington once. I was glad to 
find the state of that mission so much better 
than I had expected. The church and par- 
sonage house are in good repair, but few of 
the members have been driven away by the 
rage of this rebellion, and their places have 
been abundantly supplied by refugees from 
the Continent, who have taken up their resi- 
dence in this pleasing township. If we add 
to this the ruinous state of the meeting-house 
and the fliglit of the dissenting minister, 
many of whose parishioners, I am told, highly 
disapproved of his inflammatory preachments, 
and would willingly join to the more sober 
and judicious order of the Church of England, 
I cannot help thinking the present a very 
favorable opportunity of building up and es- 
tablishing a flourishing church in this place, 
if a prudent and sensible clergyman could be 
found, who would devote himself to the serv- 
ice of the people." 

1780, February 4. The British commander 
in-chief asks of Cutting a part of the church 
for a granary. Dr. Samuel Martin and LefFert 
Hagawout were appointed by the vestry to 
wait on Colonel Birch, the commandant at 
Hempstead, and represent the situation and 
order of the church. When informed of the 
nature of the building, Colonel Birch politely 



and generously relinquished all pretensions 
to it, and said the congregation sbould not 
be deprived of public worship for an inconsid- 
erable inconvenience to the army. The vestry 
thank him for his polite behavior. 

1780. May IG. Mr. Cutting and the church 
wardens waited on Colonel Birch and com- 
plained of an outrage committed against the 
church during Divine service on Whitsunday, 
May 14th, by Cornet Searle, of the 17th 
Dragoons, and begged redress for it in the 
name of the congregation, and protection in 
future, that the congregation may attend the 
worship of God in peace and security. 

The cornet was compelled to send in a 
written apology. 

1780, July 20. Mr. John Sayre writes that, 
in compliance with the wishes of the Society, 
he went to the assistance of tlie mission at 
Huntington twice, and preached, baptized the 
children, visited the sick, and gave notice of 
his intention to administer the sacrament on 
a future day ; but the next night but one after 
he was gone, the house where he lodged was 
searclied by an armed party from Connecticut, 
who having neither plundered nor insulted 
the family, he conjectured that he was the 
object of their search, and tlierefore he has 
been afraid to venture there again. 

1781, February 16. Mr. Cutting has writ- 
ten one letter to the Society, in which he ob- 
serves that confusion and tumult are not at 
all favorable to religion, and the inhabitants 
of Hempstead being, many of them, in the 
King's service, and frequently employed on 
Sundays, are prevented from their regular 
attendance on Divine service; but that in 
summer time the church is pretty well filled ; 
and upon the whole, he thinks that the church 
has by no means lost ground in these factious 
times. He goes to Huntington as often as he 
can consistently with his safety, and baptizes 
the children. Since his last he had baptized 
forty-nine, and had five new communicants. 
He complains of the great advance in all pro- 
visions, which bears the more hard upon him 
as he receives now nothing from his people, 
nor for two years past the small allowance 
that was made by Act of Assembly. 

1781. Mr. Cutting writes that the Loyal- 
ists suffer more from the King's troops than 
they did from the Insurgents. " We have 
nothing that we can call our own." He 
especially complains that, having bought a 
house and twenty five acres of land, near the 



15 



town spot, it was taken last winter by the 
British commandant and used as a hospital 
for the 17th Dragoons, till July or August, 
and no rent allowed him. They left it in a 
ruinous condition, merely saying they had no 
further use for it. Since then he has repaired 
the house and let it, with one acre, to a tenant, 
for £50 a year. It had fourteen acres of win- 
ter grain on it, which is much damaged, the 
house being in the midst of it. On October 
28th, by order of the commanding officer of 
the 17th Dragoons, the house was a second 
time taken, broken open and entered by vio- 
lence, for a hospital. 

Mr. Cutting petitions the British command- 
ing officer at New York that the house be re- 
stored or the rent paid, as he bought the farm 
to eke out his ill-paid salary, and went in 
debt for it. 

The 17th Dragoons came to Hempstead in 
1778, writes Mr. Cutting, and the command- 
ant, after sundry acts of violence and oppres 
sion by which I suffered, he moved a public 
building which he used as a guardhouse to 
the school-house, and thus broke np the 
school. 

1781, December 9. Timothy Wetmore, a 
refugee, kept school at Hempstead. 

1782, April 11. Mr. Cutting complains to 
Captain Archdale, commandant at Hempstead, 
of an outrageous insult, on Saturday night 
by violently breaking open the doors of the 
church by Cornet Sinclair, Lloyd, Delancey 
and others. Mr. Cutting's reception was not 
satisfactory. The captain, however, said he 
gave the soldiers a severe lecture.* 

1783, February 21. Mr. Cutting has writ- 
ten one letter wherein he remarks that occur- 
rences in an old mission are not very various. 
He continues in his duty, and within the year 
he had baptized one hundred and nine, viz.: 
sixty-six children and ten adults in his own 
mission ; nine children and three adults at 
Huntington ; the rest were the children of 
Hessian Yagers and of the 17th Light Dra- 
goons. 



March 3, 1785. Thomas Lambert Moore 
was inducted. 

* Mr. Cutting had, in 1776, removed the furniture of 
the church and the King's coat of arms, and concealed 
them in his own house. 



1785, November 3d, Thursday. Bishop 
Seabury, in St. George's Church, ordained 
John Lowe, from Virginia, being the first or- 
dination in this State. The assembly was 
numerous. 

1785-6. Jonathan Gildersleeve is sexton, 
Mr. Throop had been clerk. The bell, being 
extremely bad, had to be carted to and from 
Brooklyn. 

1786. Hendrick Onderdonk, who became 
connected with the church a little before 1770, 
was sent as lay delegate to the Diocesan Con- 
vention. 

1787-9. Jacob Bedell was clerk, at £5 a 
year. 

1788. John Latham was clerk to the ves- 
try. Leffert Hagawout is thanked for his past 
services, on retiring from the vestry. 

1789. Silvanus Bedell is appointed clerk, 
provided he proves satisfactory. 

1790. Mr. D. Kissam offers to be clerk, if 
Bedell won't serve. 

1790, October 3. Died at Brookhaven, the 
Rev. James Lyons, aged about ninety. He 
was a zealous advocate for the Episcopal 
Church, and has left a handsome estate to his 
surviving relatives. 

At the outbreak of the Revolution, Mr. 
Lyons sided with the King, and took every 
method to seduce the ignorant and counteract 
the measures recommended by Congress for 
redress of grievances. August 11, 1775, he was 
put under guard in General Wooster's camp. 

1799, May 15. Mr. Rattoone declined a 
call, for sundry reasons which attached him 
to Jamaica. 

1804. Richard Wiggins was clerk. 

Rev. Mr. Hart, rector from 1801 to 1829, 
was of an inventive turn of mind and much 
given to mechanical contrivances. He in- 
vented a machine for shearing cloth, and went 
over to England to secure a patent for it. 
He also got up a machine for making brooms. 
He also kept a boarding school. Among his 
teachers were Adam Empie (1811) and Mr. 
Noble (1813). These, with Eli Wheeler, 
(1814), also officiated on Sundays in the 
church, being in deacon's orders. 

1813, March 2. The vestry of St. George's 
Church need $100 to enable them to pay Rev. 
Birdseye Glover Noble for ministerial services, 
and solicit the friends of the church to pay to 
the several collectors what they think their 
just proportion. The present subscription for 
the rector's yearly salary is about |350, the 



16 



proportion of eacli will be about one-tliird of 
their yearly subscription. If the money col- 
lected overruns the sum immediately wanted, 
the overplus shall be applied to procure other 
assistant services (as opportunity may offer) in 
our churches. 

Subscribers" Names. 

£ 8. d. £ s. d. 

Dr. Benj. Tredwell, 1 Samuel Poole, 2 8 

John Tredwell, 1 Johu Peters, 4 

Benjamin Piatt, 1 Jonas Denton, 2 8 

Samuel Valentine, 2 8 

Received May 8, 1813, from Mr. Benjamin 
Tredwell, $9, on account of the above sub- 
scription for Itev. Seth Hart. 

Wm. H. Hart. 



One Sunday, as the people were cominor out 
of church, an itinerant Methodist preacher, 
who had found his way into Hempstead, 
standing on a wagon near the door began to 
address them on the subject of religion, and 
taking advantage of the crowd that the nov- 
elty of the thing had collected around him, 
urged them to repentance and reformation. 
Such, it is said, was the origin of Methodism 
in Hempstead. 



OMISSIONS. 

1735, June 23. Mr. Jenney writes that a 
thunder-clap struck the -steeple, which was 
surmounted by a weather-cock, and did con- 
siderable damage, but we are proceeding vig- 
orously in repairing it, and the difficulty is 
how to get a bell. Governor Cosby com- 
mends us and thinks we have done wonders. 
We now use Tate & Brady's version of the 
Psalms, having discontinued Sternhold & 
Hopkins. 

1736, July 14. Mr. Jenney complains that 
"Justices of the peace take it on themselves 
to solemnize the sacred banns of marriage, 
which the constables formerly did also, in the 
absence of ministers. Colonel Tredwell vends 
licenses for the Government. In about fifteen 
months he vended forty-four, the greater part 
of which were for persons in my parish, of 
whom I married but four couples." 



1739, May 24. Extract from T. Keble's 
letter, at Oysterbay : " There are six schools 
kept in this township — one in the town, one 
at Norwich, one at Matinecock, one at Mus- 
queto Cove, one at Cedar Swamp, and one at 
Jericho. At times there are several more 
places where schools are kept. The masters 
generally that teach in them are necessitous 
traveling persons, so that there is seldom 
school kept above one-quarter of a year or one- 
half a year at a place. I cannot hear that any 
of them are of any denomination, and but two 
of the masters that teach in them ; the one at 
Jericho goes under the denomination of a Qua- 
ker, and the other, at Cedar Swamp, calls 
himself Churchman. Many people of this 
townspot and township are of no denomina- 
tion. Some go constant to church and others 
to all sorts of meetings and sects that fall in 
their way ; and some seldom go to any, but 
are so infatuated in the spirit of enthusiasm, 
and say that their inward guide will teach 
them all things without going to hear any 
religion, which makes some of them run into 
infidelity."— Hawks' MSS., ii, 118. 

1742, March 26. Mr. Keble, at Oysterbay, 
writes: " Since Mr. Jenney went home [on a 
visit to Europe] there has been here a volun- 
tary Anabaptist preacher from North Caro 
lina, and tells them there is no other way of 
baptizing but plunging, and that infant bap- 
tism is sinful and mock. His stay here was 
short. Since, there have been several of the 
enthusiastic people here baptized in that way, 
which has increased their meeting, which 
before was so small that there was but little 
notice taken of them, for the less reason there 
is in their preaching, the more they are 
minded amongst such people." — Hawks' 
MSS., ii, 143. 

1744, June 23. Thomas Keble, Oysterbay, 
writes to the Secretary : " Since Mr. Seabury 
came he has visited and preached upon 
week days, and has roused them up in all 
quarters of his parish, amongst all the denom- 
inations and others, particularly in this place 
where I now live. He has preached three 
times upon week days, besides several visits, 
and has baptized children out of four families, 
and one adult, in this place, and has preached 
several times at the Dutch church in the 
bounds of Hempstead, [Success], being invited 
by the Dutch people there, and of late has 
preached at Huntington, an old Independent 
i place within five miles of Oysterbay church. 



17 



beingr invited by some of the people there who I 
of late come constantly to church at Oyster- 
bay and sometimes to Hempstead ; for the 
Independent and voluntary preachers have 
infused false notions into the people in these 
parts, of the discipline of the Church of Eng- 
land, particularly of the Liturgy, which Mr. 
Seabury takes great pains to explain at all 
seasonable times." — Hawks' MSS., ii, 168. 

Mr. Thomas writes to the Secretary of the 
Venerable Society, (March 1, 1705): "Oyster- 
bay, thirteen miles from hence, is likewise in 
my parish, where I preach every third Sun 
day. They 'have generally been canting 
Quakers, but now their society is much broke 
and scattered. Deplorable ignorance is their 
great misery, not free from a deep tincture of 
obstinacy. 

" I want Common Prayer books and some 
small tracts of controversy between us and 
tlie dissenters. ' Bennet's Abridgement,' and 
' The Faith and Practice of a Church of Eng- 
land Man,' would do very great service, and 
help blunt the knees of their bias and preju- 
dice. The people are highly sensible and 
gratefully accept of the charity of the Honor- 
able Society. The £5 worth of books which 
yoa gave me in trust have been distributed 
to the best advantage." 

Mr. Thomas writes, (May 26, 1705): " I now 
draw for £10, which i;)lease deduct out of my 
allowance for the year 1705, my time having 
commenced on Lady day last. I hope my 
drawing so soon will be no offence, my pres 
ent exigencies pressing me to it. Our £60 
here being paid in ' country pay,' and corn at 
present very cheap, makes our allowance here 
very poor and dilatory. As for perquisites, I 
have none here, marriages being solemnized 
by the justices of the peace. Buryings and 
christenings we have nothing for. They are 
all dissenters, and being easy with them that 
way will be one powerful motive to gain upon 
them. I thank God I have a very thronged 
church, which (were you thoroughly ac- 
quainted with the inveterate humor of the 
people) would seem to you next to a miracle. 
It is my misfortune that I have none to an- 
swer the Responses ; for that anybody should 
speak in the church besides the minister is, in 
the sense of these people, confusion. My path 
here is very thorny — all my steps narrowly 
watched — I am obliged to walk very gingerly. 
I shall endeavor, by God's assistance, not to 
give them the least occasion to calumniate, 



and be as cautious in walking as I know they 
are in watcMng." 

Mr. Thomas writes, (June 27, 1705) : " I am 
very pleasantly situated here, upon an even, 
delightsome plain, sixteen miles long, richly 
furnished with beef, mutton, and fowls of all 
sorts; the air sharp and severe, and not sub- 
ject to those fulsome fogs so natural to the 
English climate. The place is sweet and 
pleasant. I have two distinct churches, fif- 
teen miles asunder, where I preach by turns, 
but have neither Bible nor Common Prayer 
book in either, so I am necessitated to carry 
small ones of my own about with me for to 
read Divine service. I know of no place upon 
the main that is a truer and more real object 
of 'the Honorable Society's charity than this, 
the people being generally very poor and ut- 
terly averse to the service of the Church of 
England." 

August 23. " The vestry of Oysterbay have 
raised a handsome sum to build an addition 
to the small church there, and the vestry of 
Hempstead a considerable sum to build a gal- 
lery in the church, (which the ministers of 
their kidney neither wanted nor could bring 
them to), as also to repair an old, weather- 
beaten parsonage-house they have here. Be- 
tween both they raised about £200. I have 
a more constant and numerous congregation 
since I came here than ever was known when 
they had a dissenter, one of their own kidney, 
among them. This building will enflame 
the greatest part of them, and I must expect 
daily broadsides from them. Though all be- 
ginnings are difficult, I hope to live to make 
it a post easy enough for my successors. I 
baptized a dozen, Sunday was a sevennight, 
some of them adults. I am very much put 
to it here for witnesses ; godfathers, &c., being 
a great bugbear among them. I am necessi- 
tated to qualify the charge given the god- 
fathers, &c., by the words, ' endeavor and as 
far as God shall enable me'; for our baptism 
will not go down by any means in the strict- 
ness of our Liturgy, for it seems to them, as 
they say, too severe, the charge being abso- 
lute and unconditional." 

1705, November 9. " Our parishes here are 
widely extensive (being eighteen miles one 
way and sixteen the other) and the people 
much scattered. Besides, two sermons a San- 
day make my private visits and familiar con- 
ferences with them at their own dwellings 
fewer than I could wish. However, I em- 



18 



brace all occasions of converse with them, 
that are consistent with my studies." 

1707, April 23. Mr. Thomas writes: "I 
have often laid before my vestry the necessity 
of a register book in the parish, but to no 
purpose. Having no method of raising a 
fund to defray that and such like public exi- 
gencies, since I came here, I have converted 
the communion offerings (the poor here being 
very few and provided plentifully for by a 
public tax from the government) to buy some 
requisite necessaries for the communion table, 
&c., and out of our late Easter offerings I hope 
to buy a register book, which I bespoke al- 
ready ; and then I shall take particular care 
to register all christenings, marriages and 
burials, according to our instructions from the 
Venerable Society. I have baptized some 
scores of infants and adults since my arrival 
here, and married some dozens of couples, but 
would never receive a farthing perquisites for 
them hitherto. It was customary here for the 
justices to solemnize marriages, who are very 
tenacious of that addition to their offices, and 
in order to bring marriages to the church I 
have solemnized all gratis; first, in order to 
reconcile them to our way, and then to take 
off that grand aspersion so often in their 
mouths against the Church of England's min- 
isters, that they greedily covet the fleece and 
neglect the flock. I have received four pieces 
of eight [f 4] for one funeral sermon, the per- 
son dying being a bachelor and ordered it to 
me in his will ; and 12 shillings from one 
married couple, who going out of my parish 
to be married into the city, Mr. Vesey reserved 
oue-half of his perquisites for me ; and that is 
all I accepted of since my coming to this par- 
ish. The people I live among are poor, and 
from their cradles prejudiced and disaffected 
to our constitution, and should I have screwed 
them up to perquisites I should assuredly 
have nipped the church in the bud. I have 
been strictly brought up in it, and shall spare 
no pains to propagate it. I allow my clerk a 
small salary out of my own annually, and 
without that I could have none. I have 
raised a school in the town since my coming, 
and allow towards it (in conjunction with the 
inhabitants) £20 a year. We are now build- 
ing a schoolhouse and settling a piece of land 
upon it, which I have contributed unto. A 
good precedent of that nature, I presume, is 
the most moving rhetoric I can use to per- 
suade those whose intellectuals are so mean 



and earthly that they cannot discern the ad- 
vantage, worth and excellency of education 
for their children's present and future welfare. 
In vain I preach to them the superstructures 
of Christianity when they are destitute of the 
groundworks and fundamentals of religion 
by education. I have bought catechisms to 
give away among the children, and hope in 
some time to have a set of catechumens. 
While the Honorable Society are pleased to 
continue to us their allowance, we may live 
upon honorable terms, independent of our 
people and not subject to either their scorns 
or contempts. When it is once withdrawn, 
we must expect to be assuredly miserable and 
subject to their insolencies. " 

1709, Jane 12. Mr. Thomas having prose- 
lyted some [thirty-five] rigid dissenters to the 
unity of the Church, the Venerable Society 
desire of him "a list of rigid debauchees, de- 
moralists and rigid heathen converted to the 
faith, that being the chief design of the estab- 
lishment of the Society." Mr. Thomas con- 
ceives himself "sent here as the minister of 
the parish. He has to prepare for preaching 
every Lord's-day twice, besides visiting and 
instructing the poor, ignorant people dis- 
tantly scattered about the wilderness. Is not 
this employment enough for one man consci- 
entiously to perform ? I have within my 
district infidels of my own color, too many 
upon whom I bend my whole force. To con- 
vert a heathen into Christianity is a very 
good and pious work : but to reconcile the 
English, in a great degree sunk into pagan- 
ism and infidelity, to the principles of the 
Christian faith, is a far worthier employ, 
especially since I find the one practicable, the 
other morally impossible. As to the infidels 
whose conversion you press home on me, they 
are of two sorts, negroes and Indians. I have 
many negroes who are constant hearers, but 
the native Indians are very few hereabouts, 
all whalers, sottish, debauched, wholly given 
up to drink. They are incapable of any 
Christian impression. Rum and strong liquors 
being the only deities they care to worship. 

" We had a schoolmaster settled among us 
for two and a half years. Now we are desti- 
tute, the people being utterly weary of the 
subscriptions I had engaged them in, I hope 
in God's due time to induce them to settle an- 
other. I shall not be wanting to contribute 
towards it, both by purse and persuasion, as 
heretofore." 



19 



1723, April 1. Mr. Thomas writes that be 
has baptized ninety children and adults, 
thirty-seven whereof at one time. 18 of whom 
were adults, upon which occasion (it being 
performed in a distant private house) he dis- 
coursed at larjre, ex tempore, upon the subject 
and great necessity of the sacrament of bap- 
tism. "I have all along inculcated into the 
people here a sense of the benefit and privi- 
lege of the sacraments, that particularly of 
the Lord's supper. The word ' damnation,' so 
rendered in our English translation, is a 
mighty bugbear to weak, scrupulous con 
sciences, which by public y)reacliiug and pri- 
vate conferences I have endeavored to explain. 

" My necessary hospitality has all along in 
a very great measure amounted to the height 
of my salary both here and at home, much 
beyond those more cautious limits consistent 
with the welfare of my family. I have served 
my public view by it, though to the detri- 
ment of my private self. Burthening the 
purses of the new converts to the Church 
would soon render our ministry of little effect. 
I find affability and hospitality, next to a con- 
scientious dischargeof duty, to be very sinewy, 
prevailing arguments to mollify their innate, 
inveterate principles. It promotes my public 
designs. 

'• I have had a severe return of my distem- 
per this last March, which for some time un- 
qualified me for my duty, and the service of 
the church was wholly unperformed, for here 
are no supernumeraries to assist us when God 
is pleased to afflict us with sickness." 

1724, October 1. " I am truly sorry," writes 
Mr. Thomas, in his last letter, " that Brook- 
haven is not likely to have a missionary. It 
lies forty miles distant from me, but I am 
tolerably acquainted with the place, having 
married my wife from thence, and am morally 
assured that a discreet gentleman settled 
there would be of the highest consequence to 
the interest of the Church in that country. 
They have three times petitioned for a Church 
minister, once above twenty years ago. 



JENNEY. 
Mr. Jenney writes, June 27, 1728 : " Our 
past winter has been very severe. Mr. Gil- 
dersleeve, our schoolmaster, says Hempstead 



was settled some time before they bad any 
minister or house for Divine service. The 
first church was very small, much less than 
the small one we have now. Traveling 
preachers, sometimes Independents, some- 
times Presbyterians, (for the most part from 
New England), did now and then officiate, 
without any covenant with the people or set- 
tlement by law. In 1680 tlie town agreed to 
build a better house by name of a meeting 
house ; but after it was built there arose a 
great controversy between the Presbyterians 
and Independents, in which the Presbyterians 
got the better, and one Denton was covenanted 
with to be their minister; but he soon left, as 
did several others that were afterwards cov- 
enanted with after the same manner, till the 
arrival of Mr. Thomas from the Honorable 
Society. Him they inducted into the posses- 
sion of the church, parsonage-house and glebe. 
* * * The church is not kept in good 
repair, which occasions thin congregations in 
cold weather. There is a cloth, said to be 
presented by Queen Anne, which seems de- 
signed for a table in front of the desk, which 
we are forced to make use of when we receive 
the sacrament. The minister's salary is £40 
from Hempstead and £20 from Oysterbay, by 
an agreement among them. I have in pos- 
session an old, ruinous house, much out of 
repair, near the church, with three acres of 
poor, worn-out land, the pasture of which will 
not support one horse. There belongs to the 
parsonage a farm, about five miles distant, of 
one hundred and seventy-two acres of upland 
and twenty-five of meadow. I have put a 
poor man upon it, but whether to any advan- 
tage to me I can't yet tell. These two have 
been surveyed by Mr. Samuel Clowes, of Ja- 
maica, who underwrites his draft that the 
church has a title to a hundredth part of the 
whole township. Besides this there is, about 
seven miles distant, a small lot of meadow, 
which I did lease out but got nothing by it. 

" But I am threatened with an ejectment, 
first, by the heirs of one Ogden, from whom 
the purchase was made, in what year I can- 
not find, for it is not in the records, and the 
deeds are lost, and all those concerned in the 
purchase are dead ; second, by the Presbyte- 
rians ; third, by the Quakers, who say it 
belongs to the town. 

" As to the number of inhabitants at first, 
I can't meet with any information, from the 
oldest men here being at a loss in this point. 



20 



But it is certain it is niucli greater now, for 
the whole parish is settled very thick. In 
1732 the governor ordered a census. The 
constable gave in : 

Hempstead. Oysterbat. 

WUITES. 

475 Men, 532 Boys I 325 Men, 331 Boye 

472 Women, 472 Girls | 325 Women, 268 Girls 

NEGROES AND INDIAN SLAVES. 

116 Men, 76 Boys 1 41 Men, 17 Boys 

76 Women, 51 Girls | 27 Women, 26 Girls 

Total, 3,629 in my parish. 

" At the first coming of Mr. Thomas, I am 
told, not above five or six adhered to the 
Church, and they brought their religion from 
England, where they were born. The rest 
were Presbyterians or Independents, and the 
most Quakers. Our congregation now is very 
uncertain, being greater or smaller according 
to the weather. In summer we are generally 
crowded entirely, especially in the afternoon, 
and also in winter when there is snow enough 
upon the ground to carry their slays (a very 
convenient and easy way of traveling at such 
seasons), but they are but rare at other times. 
Our church is generally full, but not crowded. 
Most of the professed members of the church 
livii at a distance from it ; the body of the 
Presbyterians, at least the much greater part, 
live here in the town spot. The people's 
manner of living is scattered up and down, 
excepting that there are a few very small 
villages, as Hempstead, Jerusalem, Success, 
Bungy or Westbury, Oysterbay, Bethpage, 
Norwich and Wheatly. Those who live in 
the villages are the poorest of the people, the 
more substantial farmers finding it for their 
intei'est to live at a distance from each other. 
There are but two churches in my parish, one 
at Hempstead and a very small one at Oyster- 
bay, where our congregation increases, but is 
yet very small. 

" The Quakers have two meeting houses, 
one at the Head of Cow Neck, another at 
Bungy ; but they meet at many places in 
barns or houses, according to the bigness of 
their congregation. 

" In the town spot of Hempstead is but one 
Presbyterian meeting house, the only one in 
the parish ; but they are so poor and few that 
it is with difficulty that they maintain their 
minister. We daily expect he will leave 
them. 

" The religions in my parish are a very few 
Presbyterians in Hempstead, and rather fewer 
Baptists ; at Oysterbay more of the Church, 
more than both together of the Quakers. 



But most of all of latitudinarians, who run 
from one congregation to another and hold 
to that religion whose preacher pleases them 
best. 

" Both the towns of my parish extend across 
the Island, sixteen miles from north to south, 
from east to west about twenty miles, from 
corner to corner near thirty miles. The roads 
are good in good weather, but yet traveling 
is very troublesome in the heat of summer 
and the cold of winter, which are both ex- 
treme. For great part of my parish being a 
plain of sixteen miles long, without shade or 
shelter, the wind and sun have their full 
strength, and sometimes in winter the snow 
is so deep as to make traveling impossible, 
and so it has been for a great part of this 
winter. 

" There is nothing more inconstant than 
schools here, excepting those from the Honor- 
able Society. The usual custom is for a set 
of neighbors to engage a schoolmaster for one 
year. 'Tis seldom they keep the same longer, 
and often they are without for several years. 
The only master that has staid long with his 
employers is one Thomas Keble, upon a neck 
of land called Musqueto Cove, where he 
behaves very well and does good service. 
The common rule for payment for the masters 
is by subscription, £20 with diet, or £30 
without. But Mr. Gildersleeve has five shil- 
lings per quarter for each scholar. 

" The church has no donation ; the minister 
and schoolmaster no benefactions ; the library 
is only that from the Venerable Society. 

"The negroes are so dispersed that it 'is 
impossible for me to instruct them, and scarce 
any of their masters or mistresses will. 

" There is in the town spot Mr. [Gerardus] 
Clowes, who about three quarters of a year 
ago began a school, spent the Sunday even- 
ings in catechising those negroes which would 
go to him, during the winter; but in summer 
he has no time, the evenings being short and 
the day taken up with the service in the 
church being twice performed, and then there 
went but a few to be instructed by him. I 
have one negro a communicant, and my own 
were baptized in their infancy, and they 
(being two) shall be carefully instructed 
while I have them. 

" At my first coming here several of the 
leading men of the town pressed me earnestly 
to represent to the Society the necessity of a 
successor to Mr. Gildersleeve. Then Mrs. 



21 



Thomas was amonjr them, who assured me 
that her husband designed to do so if he had 
recovered. I enclose a memorial recommend- 
ing Mr. Clowes. He thereupon has wrote me 
a letter, which is also enclosed. He is the 
son of a very active friend of the missionaries, 
Mr. Samuel Clowes, of Jamaica, whose ser- 
vices, especially to the two parishes of Ja- 
maica and Hempstead, are upon record." 

Mr. Jenney writes, (September 8, 1729): "A 
few Presbyterians at Hempstead have an un- 
ordaiued preacher, as probationer, to officiate 
for them, whom they could not support were 
it not for the assistance which they receive 
from their brethren in the neighboring parish 
of Jamaica. They don't gain on me. So 
prevalent is Quakerism, that it is difficult to 
persuade constant hearers to be themselves 
or have their children baptized. This is more 
visible in Oysterbay, and I believe the weak- 
ness of religion there proceeds greatly from 
the want of a minister resident among them. 
My indispensable engagements to Hempstead 
restrain me from visiting them oftener than 
every third Sunday. I have a dozen cate- 
chumens at Hempstead, and would be more 
if I had books. I have been out of pocket for 
catechisms and prayer books. My circum- 
stances won't permit me to answer all the 
demands on me. I beg the version of Psalms 
by Tate & Brady may be bound in the prayer 
books, for that version only do I use in the 
congregation. Some negroes who can read 
are desirous of using prayer books in Divine 
service. I believe it would tend to promote 
decency in the public service if they were 
supplied." 

Mr. Jenney writes, (December 5, 1739) : 
"The justices yet marry. I formerly wrote 
you that Colonel Tredwell, who lives not a 
half of a quarter of a mile from me, and vends 
licenses for the government, in about fifteen 
months vended forty-four, by much the 
greater number of which were for persons 
living in my parish, and of them I married 
but four couples. I yesterday saw a new 
book of Bonds for Licenses of the same Colo- 
nel Tredwell, wherein were but ten, all but 
one being to persons living in my parish, of 
which I married but one couple. The first 
was September 29, 1739. I am satisfied that 
justices marry, if not all, at least very near 
all that are not married by me." 



SEABURY. 

Mr. Vesey writes, (November 22, 1742): 
" The precinct of Hempstead, as I am credibly 
informed, (though they have several dissent- 
ers among them), are inclined to call the Rev. 
Mr. Seabury, of New London, to officiate 
there ; which if they should do and he accept 
of their call and be inducted, on condition of 
the approbation of the Honorable Society, it is 
the opinion of the wisest among us that it 
wf)uld be the most effectual means to preserve 
that infant church from disturbances and 
lawsuits, confusion and ruin." 

Mr. Seabury writes. (September 30, 1746) : 
"The people have imbibed Quaker notions, 
and are loth to come to the sacrament. I had 
two new communicants, and want copies of 
the ' Reasonable Communicant.' I have bap- 
tized many adults and a vast many children 
since my mission at Hempstead,* many of 
whom are grown to years to join in the public 
worship. It is a genuine work of charity to 
give thera prayer books. I want catechisms 
with questions, to try whether the catechu- 
mens understand the answers." 

Mr. Seabury writes, (March 26, 1746) : " The 
sectaries of all sorts (who abound in this par- 
ish) and professed infidels exert themselves 
to the utmost to hinder the growth of the 
church ; and the more diligence I use, the 
more the infidels particularly seem to be 
inflamed, yet the church manifestly gets 
ground." 

Mr. Seabury writes, (September 30, 1748) : 
" My son is now studying physic, and before 
he be of age to present himself to the Society, 
I intend he shall spend one or two years at 
Edinboro' in the study of physic. I wish the 
Society to give him a place in their books, 
and grant what C-ommissary Vesey may rec- 
ommend in regard to Huntington. He is not 
yet nineteen. He may be employed at some 
small allowance, as I presume to hope at 
Huntington, in reading prayers and sermons, 
and in catechising, to good purpose, before he 
will be of age for Holy Orders." 

1750, October 5. " Religion prospers, though 
infidels try to weaken it. The new church 
at Oysterbay. which has been some years in 
building, is so far completed as to be con- 
venient for use, and was dedicated to the 
service of God according to the Liturgy of 
England, on the 14th of June last. 

* In compliance with prevailing notions, Mr. Sea- 
bury, when requested, baptized by immersion. 



22 



" The cliurcli at Huntington is also ren- 
dered very commodious, and a conprregation 
of fifty or sixty persons, and sometimes more, 
constantly attend Divine service there, who 
behave very devoutly and perform their part 
in Divine worship very decently. They had 
taken from them in the late mortal sickness 
four of their most substantial members, who 
bore the principal part of building the church, 
which has very much weakened their ability, 
and they have desired me to ask of the 
Society a folio Bible and Common Prayer 
Book, for the use of the church." 

1752, March 26. " Religion has gained but 
little in our bounds, the winter past, the 
church having been troubled with some dis- 
turbers from a pretence that could hardly 
have been suspected. The increase of our 
congregation had brought us to a resolution 
to build galleries in the church, which were 
accordingly erected by subscription, are well- 
nigh completed, and are commodious to en- 
tertain one hundred and fifty people, which 
some restless spirits, enemies to the Church 
and Revelation in general, envying (as I fear) 
the church's prosperity, have made an occa- 
sion to raise a party who seem zealous for 
nothing bat contention ; but I hope, by the 
moderation of those who have the good of 
the church at heart, that the ill eflfects and 
mischief intended will be obviated. 

" Never did any place need the means of 
religion more than this, or perhaps deserve it 
less, a few compared to the whole excepted. 
Religion meets with no support from the 
Government, except the establishing a sup- 
port for it by some former laws, nor is it at 
all considered in the characters of those 
intrusted with commissions, in which ' party' 
(with which the country is terribly harassed) 
seems to have the greatest influence. Pro- 
faneness meets with no frown from the civil 
magistrate, there being none to put any man 
to shame for anything ; nor doth the civil 
Governor seem to have anything in view but 
to secure interest and property, and though 
iniquity is not established by law, it is by 
custom ; against the prevalence of which we 
have nothing to oppose but the public exer- 
cise of our religion and the example of a few. 

"But the church gains ground, maugre all 
opposition ; but then the comforts of such a 
Mission, where a man must always be strug- 
gling with gainsayers, must be in the pros- 
pect of a future reward. Indeed, if a man 



will laugh at every jest cracked upon religion 
and revelation, and seem pleased with blas- 
phemy which infidels call wit, he will find 
himself caressed by many ; but a grave coun- 
tenance and serious rebuke will not fail to 
get him implacable enemies." 

Mr. Seabury writes, (October 13, 1752): 
" My son laid down his place as catechist at 
Huntington, in July last, and embarked from 
New York for Edinburgh in August, to spend 
one year in studying of physic and anatomy, 
the church has gained ground in Huntington 
by his assistance, and under a discreet minis- 
ter it would be a flourishing church, notwith- 
standing the loss by death of its best mem- 
bers. 

" In Hempstead the church holds its ground 
in spite of the great variety of sectaries and 
the implacable malice of infidels, who are not 
ashamed to scotf at the whole scheme of sal- 
vation by a mediator. 

October 2, 1759. Mr. Seabury says : " The 
last time I wrote I sent the Society a pam- 
phlet containing " Animadversions' upon my 
letter to the Society, and under the form of 
'A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend,' in 
Duchess County with my reply. 1 purpose 
to make another visit to that County this 
instant October. 

" I attend a full church at Huntington 
twice a year, on Sundays ; and at Huntington 
South, which is sixteen or seventeen miles 
from any church or meeting house except 
Quakers, I have preached sundry times on 
week days, to a congregation of one hundred 
people, generally poor, who express great 
thankfulness." 

17. 1, October 21. " Although the Indepen- 
dent meeting house in Hempstead has been 
constantly supplied with a preacher, and 
Anabaptist and Separate Baptist meetings be 
held constantly at Oysterbay, our church is 
well filled at both places, and they perform 
Divine service far more regularly than for- 
merly. When I can attend Huntington 
(which is but seldom) we have generally a 
full church, and the zealous members always 
lament their want of a minister, and beg me 
to mention them to the Society by way of re- 
membrance." 

BOARDING SCHOOL. 

1762, March 25. " The Rev. Mr. Seabury, 
in order to enlarge his school for the instruc- 
tion of youth in Latin, Greek and the mathe- 
matics, (or, if desired, in reading, writing and 



23 



arithmetic), has engaged a young gentleman, 
who is a candidate for Holy Orders, to be his 
usher, and to give constant attendance in his 
school, both in the day time, and also, from 
November 1 to March 1, till 9 o'clock in the 
evening. 

" Mr. Seabury will entertain young gentle- 
men at his own house, in a genteel manner, 
at £30 per annum, schooling, washing and 
wood for their school-fire included, they find- 
ing their own bedding. Whatever gentle- 
men or ladies shall be so good as to entrust 
him with the education of their children, may 
depend on their being used in the politest 
manner ; and the strictest regard will be had 
to their morals, by their humble servant, 
" Samuel Seabury." 
prize in a lottery. 

1763, June. Mr. Seabury says, in his diary : 
' The ticket No. 5856 in the Light house and 
Public lottery of New York drew in my favor, 
by the blessing of God, £500, (of which I re 
ceived £435, there being a deduction of fifteen 
per cent.), for which I now record to my pos 
terity my thanks and praise to Almighty God. 
the Giver of all good gifts. A7nen." 

1764, March 26. Mr. Seabury writes that 
" Great numbers of people can't be brought 
to attend any sort of public worship, under a 
pretence of spending the Sunday as well at 
home ; and this sort of people seems to be 
upon the increase, from the conversation of 
some deistical people, the spreading of deisti- 
cal books, and the disposition of people of 
loose education to throw off all restraint ; be- 
sides, many seem to interpret the Act of Tol- 
eration a toleration to be of no religion at all. 
From whence, and from a firm attachment to 
the Established Church being no recommend- 
ation to the public honors of the Government, 
and most of all from the Quakers' leaven, it 
comes to pass that it is an arduous task to 
bring people to the sense of their Christian 
oljligations to attend the two sacraments 
which Christ has ordained in His Church." 



CUTTING. 

Mr. Cutting (April 9, 1767,) writes; "It is 
with pleasure I can inform you of the civil 
behavior of the congregation of Hempstead 
towards me. They have built a barn and put 



the house in convenient repair, and endeavor 
at present to render my situation easy and 
comfortable. The Mission is very extensive, 
and as the severity of the weather came on 
before I was well settled, I could not take 
such a circuit round the country and can't 
give so perfect an account as I could wi«h. 
The church is in general well filled. It is 
difficult to form any proper judgment of the 
real members from the numbers of those that 
attend, as I find persons of different denomi- 
nations pretty constant in their attendance, 
and apparently devout during the perform- 
ance of Divine service; but according to the 
best calculation I have as yet been able to 
make, there are about ninety families, in 
Hempstead township, profest members of the 
Church of England. The Dutch are numer- 
ous and powerful, and declare to me their 
regard to our Established Church.* The 
Quakers and their adherents are, I think, the 
next in number. The Presbyterians appear 
to me at present to be the fewest. I find it 
for the interest of religion and the Church to 
make in regard to my external behavior no 
difference betwixt the members of my own 
and other congregations. 

" I have baptized at Hempstead fifteen 
white children. I find it very difficult to de- 
mand godfathers. Necessity, I hope, will 
excuse me if I accept frequently of the pa- 
rents. I must go to their houses and comply 
sometimes with their humors, or the children 
will go unbaptized. 

"The communicants that I have seen pres- 
ent have been about thirty-five at one time. 
The long interval betwixt the death of the 
late Mr. Seabury and my being appointed has 
been of some disservice to the church. 

" I officiate at Oysterbay every third Sun- 
day. The greatest numbers there are Ana- 
baptists and descendants from Quakers. 
This town is of large extent. As the weather 
now grows moderate, I propose visiting every 
part of the Mission as often as I can on week- 
days, that I may be enabled to give a more 
perfect account to the Society in my next." 

1768, January 7. Mr. Cutting writes : " I 
have not transmitted an account of my Mission 
in the limited time, owing to my being inca- 
pable of giving so perfect information as I 

* It was about this time that Hendrick Onderdonk, 
grandfather of the two bishops, joined the Hempstead 
church, which proltably drew forlli the above pleasant 
remark.^ of Mr. Cutting. 



24 



could have wislied. The parisli is large, and 
I was prevented in the summer, by several 
accidents, from visiting every part of it, as I 
expected, nor is it an easy matter in so short 
a time to form a certain judgment of so great 
a number, so dispersed. I have, however, 
found the people civil and hospitable, and I 
may venture to say, are grateful. As a proof 
of this, on the death of their late worthy Mis- 
sionary, Mr. Seabury, they at their own ex- 
pense built a handsome house and made it a 
present to his widow ; but I am afraid they 
are opinionated and not very easy to be per- 
suaded. The church at Hempstead is large 
and in general full ; but that is an imperfect 
way of judging of the number of a congrega- 
tion, as several of other denominations pretty 
constantly attend Divine service. The secta- 
ries here have no settled teacher amongst 
them. Many of them, therefore, frequent 
the church, and appear devout and attentive. 
The spot where I live is surrounded with 
Presbyterians. I find them kind and obliging 
neighbors, sober and pious in their conversa- 
tion, and no friends to religious animosities ; 
though I am confident the number of those 
who profess themselves members of the 
Church are superior in number to those of 
any other denomination, the Dutch excepted. 
Great numbers of every profession, however, 
remain unbaptized, owing, I imagine, to the 
principles of Quakerism which prevailed here 
so long, nor are there so many catechumens 
as I might have hoped from so large a parish. 
I have proposed to some to attend for that 
purpose on evenings, at houses properly situ- 
ated, and hope that plan will succeed. To 
the south of Hempstead, for several miles, are 
great numbers of inhabitants, in general in 
very indigent circumstances. They say they 
can't procure conveniences to come so far to 
church. I frequently on week-days go among 
them to officiate. I find large numbers of 
them assembled, who appear glad of my ser- 
vices and willing to be instructed ; but are 
totally illiterate, great part of them not being 
able to read, nor have they abilities or oppor- 
tunity to get their children instructed. A 
school there would be a real blessing. 

" At Oysterbay, the church is not finished, 
nor are they able to do it. It is indeed in 
general well filled, as neither have the dis- 
senters there (who are mostly Anabaptists 
and Quakers) any settled teacher. The mem- 
bers of the church are constant, serious and 



devout, though not equal in numbers to those 
of other denominations." 

Mr. Catting writes, (December 28, 1768): 
" As we are not in this parish disturbed with 
a variety of itinerant preachers, a greater 
appearance of regularity, with its happy con- 
sequences, prevails ; and as no animosity (that 
I can discover) reigns amongst those of differ- 
ent persuasions, no considerable change in 
any short time can be expected. Persons of 
all denominations attend Divine service, and 
the church here is much esteemed, and is cer- 
tainly, both in respect to the number and im- 
portance of its friends and professors, superior 
to the sects. Amongst the friends to the 
church I include the Dutch, (who are a 
very respectable congregation), and it is with 
pleasure I observe that the disputes which 
some evil-minded persons (to serve a present 
particular turn) have raised concerning our 
earnest desire for Episcopal government in 
the Church, has been of real service, as it has 
opened the eyes of the people, made them 
examine more closely the principles of the 
Church, and habituated them to the name of 
a Bishop, and taught them to reflect upon 
that sacred office without terror or suspicion." 

Mr. Cutting writes, (January 8, 1774): " The 
dissenting teacher who was settled to the 
south of Hempstead made no long continu- 
ance here. He married, and from the inability 
of the people to support him was obliged to 
remove. They now depend (as they have for 
a long course of years) on those who are 
sometimes sent by the Presbytery from the 
other congregations. When their meeting- 
house is shut, numbers attend Divine service 
at church, and we live on very amicable 
terms. 

" As to the wild set at Oysterbay, they must 
dwindle. They already disagree amongst 
themselves. Opposition would raise them to 
a character they can't attain of themselves, 
and as it is not worth while for any artful 
person to make himself their head and form 
them into a regular sect, they will, I trust, 
soon sink into their primitive insignificance. 
The masters of the slaves and the near inhab- 
itants feel the principal inconvenience." 

Mr. Cutting writes. (January 6, 1777): "la 
the turbulent and precarious situation tliis 
county has been in since January last, the 
church here and at Oysterbay has escaped 
better than was expected. The people in 
general in this parish and through the whole 



25 



county were profest steady Loyalists and op- 
posed to the utmost of their power the choos- 
ing Delegates, Committees, &c. They were 
indeed harassed by parties from almost every 
Province ; our houses often filled with an 
armed rabble who lived at free quarters ; the 
men forced to quit their habitations and con- 
ceal themselves in woods and swamps ; some 
were seized and carried prisoners to Connect- 
icut. These frequent incursions, however, 
and this temporary distress they rather chose 
to suiFer than submit to the hourly tyranny 
of a Committee of the basest and vilest among 
themselves ; and in this they persisted till the 
King's troops happily landed on this Island. 
In this distracted state the church was often 
threatened by banditties from the Jerseys and 
other Provinces. I continued, however, as 
usual. Divine service was uninterrupted for 
some weeks after Independence was declared 
by the infatuated Congress, and the church 
was in general much better filled than I 
could expect from the perilous situation the 
y)eople were in. Orders were often issued 
from some distant parts, to take me out of the 
church, but never executed. At last I re- 
ceived intimation that as this was the only 
church in this and the neighboring Provinces 
that was kept open, it would be particularly 
marked for vengeance ; and as the succeeding 
Sunday several armed men were sent from 
various districts, we were advised, though 
with reluctance, to shut the doors. I ab- 
stained from performing Divine service three 
Sundays at Hempstead and one at Oysterbay, 
when we were (by the blessing of God) re- 
lieved by His Majesty's forces, since which 
time we have been secure and undisturbed, 
suffering now only, in common with others, 
the natural though great inconvenience that 
must attend every place Avliich is the seat of 
war, the scarceness and dearness of the neces- 
sities of life. 

" The church here has rather gained, I 
think, during this unnatural tumult, for it is 
with pleasure said, I can assure you that in 
the whole parish there were not above three 
who called themselves Churchmen amongst 
the malcontents, and as there was no settled 
Presbyterian preacher to influence the minds 
of the people, the dissenters were left to their 
own cool judgment, attended the church- 
service, and in general approved of and joined 
their neighbors in the opposition to the Con- 
gress. 



" I have not attended the vacant Church at 
Huntington this last year, as the principal 
persons of my congregations thought it by 
no means advisable for me to go out of my 
own parish. 

" I have written some particulars to the 
Rev. Dr. Chandler, which (as he knows the 
people) may be agreeable to him." 

Mr. Cutting was a graduate of Cambridge, 
England, 1747 ; a tutor of Greek and Latin 
in Columbia College, New York, from 1756 
to 1763 ; rector of Hempstead and Oysterbay, 
1766 to 1783 ; rector successively of churches 
at Snow Hill and Newbern. He returned to 
New York, where he died, January 25, 1794, 
aged sixty-nine, beloved equally by his pu- 
pils, parishioners and friends. He, as well as 
Messrs. Seabury, Moore and Hart, kept a 
classical school. 

An obscurity hangs over the life of Rev. 
John Tliomas and the circumstances of his 
family. Colonel Morris says of him, in 1708 : 
" He has the reputation of being a good man. 
He has a great deal of warmth in his temper, 
but I have not heard of any prejudicial trans- 
ports of it." The date of his marriage is not 
known, nor what became of his widow and 
two daughters. His son John, who lived on 
the farm in Purchase, is complained of as not 
being a church-goer, attending only once or 
twice a year. In the Revolution he was a 
Whig, and was carried off to the Provost, 
where he was inoculated for the small-pox, 
but died May 2, 1777, aged seventy, and was 
buried in Trinity churchyard. 

In 1709, the Rev. John Thomas (by the 
help of his wife's money, doubtless,) bought a 
half of two-twenty-eighths part of a tract of 
land in New Jersey, for £200. How he ac- 
quired ownership of the farm in Westchester 
County we know not. 

Bishop Hobart says : " On Friday, Septem- 
ber 19, 1823, I consecrated St. George's 
Church, Hempstead. This building has been 
erected near the site of the former church, 
which was built about eighty years ago, and 
the decayed state of which rendered it neces- 
sary to take it down. The present church is 
of larger dimensions than the former, very 
neat in its style, and commodious in its ar- 
rangements, and reflects great credit on Mr. 
Hart, the rector, and parish, by whose exer- 
tions and liberality its erection has been ac- 
complished." 



26 



.Mr. .lenney write.s from Hempstead, July 
30, IToO: My congregation had grown too 
bio- for the house I officiated in, whicli is also 
very much gone to decay, and too old and ' 
crazy to be repaired and enlarged to any tol , 
erable purpose. So we resolved to build a 
new one. We now make use of it. When 1 
first set about it I consulted Mr. Commissary 
Vesey, and he proved very serviceable, by 
contributing largely out of his own purse, 
and by the interest he has, of a long standing, 
amongst my people, whom he encouraged 
and spurred on to the business, and by recom 
mending the affairs to his own people, from 
vvhom I have above £50. His Excellency 
Governor Cosby* and his lady (under whose 
influence and encouragement the church 
flourishes continually) have appeared for us 
in a public and remarkable manner, so as to 
influence others. They have done us the 
honor to name our churcli St. George's, and 
appointed St. George's day for the opening of 
it. There were present at the Divine service 
His Excellency and lady, with their Excel- 
lencies' son in-law, with his lady, attended by 
Secretary Clarke, Chief Justice Delancey, 
Rev. Commissary Vesey, some of the clergy 
and a large company of gentlemen and ladies 
from New York, and some from other parts of 
the Province. At the same time a collection 
was made after the sermon, in which the 
Governor and lady and the gentlemen and 
ladies present were remarkably generous. 
Mr. John Marsh, a gentleman from Jamaica, 
W. I., now in this Province for the recovery 
of his health, gave us a silver bason, to serve 
for baptism in the place of a font, which we 
are not provided with. His Excellency also 
has made us a most noble present of His 
Majesty's Royal charter to make us a corpor- 
ation, &c. Mr. Secretary C'larke has gener- 
ously remitted the fees of his office. Mr. 
Attorney General Bradley has given his fee, 
and Messrs. John Chambers and Joseph Mur- 
ray, counsellors and attorneys at law of great 
reputation, have prepared and engrossed the 
charter gratis. The chancel is railed in. 
Our pulpit and desk is completely finished, 
and half the church is pewed. We design to 
pew the other half. The east end window 
only is as yet glazed, and no plastering done ; 
but we were in a fair way of completing the 



^vhule, when an unha])i)y acciilcnt ]»ut a stoj) 
for a while to our proceedings. On the 2-id 
of June a thunderclap struck our steeple and 
did it considerable damage, but we are now 
vigorously proceeding to repair it, and at 
present the greatest difficulty we apprehend 
is how to get a bell of such size as to be ser- 
viceable to so large a parish. His Excellency 
and all his company have been pleased to ap- 
prove our proceedings. They commend the 
workmanship and think we have done won- 
ders, considering our circumstances and the 
time we have been about it. 

1767, May 1. The Methodists now began 
itinerating on the Island. Mr. Auchmuty 
writes from New York that : " There is one 
Lieutenant Webb here who has commenced 
preacher. The man iS turned mad and does 
a good deal of mischief about the country. 
His mad zeal is such that I shall not be sur- 
prised if he lays aside his red coat and en- 
deavors to get into holy orders, which would 
be another affliction to the clergy here." 

1776, July. Judge Thomas Jones says 
that : " Colonel Cornell, of the Rhode Island 
Line, by Washington's orders established his 
quarters at Hempstead when hunting for 
tories. He converted the Episcopal church 
into a store house, forbid the parson to pray 
for the King or Royal family, and made iise 
of the communion table for a conveniency for 
his Yankees to eat their pork and molasses 
upon." Mr. Cutting says nothing of this. 

1781, December 9. Mr. Cutting writes: 
" My situation obliges me to trust my letters 
to a friend, generally to the gentleman who 
takes my bills. In respect to the schools, Mr. 
Timothy Wetmore is at present provided for. 
Mr. James Wetmore* I know not ; and if I 



* Governor Cosby had a rural villa on the Edge of 
Hempstead Plains (1736) at or near Hyde Park, and 
attended Mr. Jenney's church. 



* James Wetmore writes from New York, (Novem- 
ber 1, 1779): "I continued my school at Mnsqueto 
Cove until the first of August last, to the satisfaction 
of my employers; but a number of my neighbors 
being captivated by the Rebels, and I very Providen- 
tially escaping, and the Loyal inhabitants being 
obliged to lodge in the fields for safety, I have thought 
it consistent with my duty, and prudent to quit the 
school, and am at present unsettled. My wife and a 
number of my younger children barely subsist between 
the lines, living in continual fear and subject to fre- 
quent depredations. I long to see the time that Rebels 
to God and King may be sensible of their folly and 
return to a true sense of their duty and happiness, a 
prospect that seems yet at a distance. I have been 
three years separated from my wife and children by 
the inhumanity of the times. I had forty scholars, at 
6 shillings, currency, per quarter. I could art'ord my 
family but little relief were I not assisted by the 
Society." 



(lid, it woiiM l)e to no puipose, as tlie rapacity 
of an officer of rank [('ol. Birch] has put an 
end to all hopes of that kind. When the 17th 
Lifjht Dragoons came to Hempstead in 1778, 
the conimandinof officer, after various acts of 
violence and oppression too tedious to mention, 
(and by which I suffered considerably in my 
property), at leno^th moved a public building 
[tlie cage] which he had used as a guard- 
house, and joined it to a house he had seized 
with some land, (the owner [Mr. Samuel Pin- 
tard] being then in England), converted the 
school to a guard-house, and appropriated to 
his own use three acres of land allotted for 
the benefit of the schoolmaster. In 1780 this 
officer was removed to a very high command 
in New York. We then had assurance that 
the school and land should be restored. In 
this expectation I wrote to the Society ; but 
as [yet] his worse than useless regiment has 
been scarce out of the smoke of Hempstead 
since its first arrival. He still keeps posses- 
sion of all. This is one, and perhaps the most 
trifling instance of a thousand, that might be 
produced of the tyranny we groan under. 
Where the army is, oppression (such as in 
England you have no conception of) univer- 
sally prevails. We have nothing we can call 
our own, and the door to redress is inaccessi- 
ble. What a state must that people be in 
who can find relief neither from law, justice 
nor humanity, where the military is con- 
cerned ! This is the case of the inhabitants 
within the King's lines. In regard to myself 
I have often applied for redress; first in 1778, 
to Mr. Eden, one of the Commissioners, from 
whom I had a letter to head-quarters, which, 
however, was ineffectual. On other occasions 
I tried memorials to as little purpose. Neces- 
sity obliged me to apply more attentively to 
the earth for subsistence, and an advantageous 
purchase presenting, a friend kindly lent me 
the money to secure it. I now hoped to pro- 
vide for my family in spite of oppression. 
How I was disappointed the enclosed memo- 
rial [to Governor Robertson] will show. It 
had no effect. Whether it proceeded from 
want of power or something else in the Gov- 
ernor is not for me to determine. Hospitals 
and everything of that kind are, I know, fully 
charged to governments, and when private 
property is thus violently seized, it is only to 
fill the purse of the oppressor." 

" The memorial of Leonard Cutting humbly 
showeth that the means for subsistence for 



my family having been much impaired by 
the present times, I some time since made a 
purchase of a dwelling house and about 
twenty-five acres of land near the town-spot 
of Hempstead. During the last winter, while 
I was proprietor of it, the house was occupied 
as a hospital for the 17th Regiment of Light 
Dragoons ; that no rent being allowed by 
them, I applied to Your Excellency for allow- 
ance of rent, or for the removal of the troops ; 
that the troops continued in it till July or 
August last, and then left it in a ruinous con- 
dition, saying they had no further use for it. 
Wishing since to make the most advan- 
tageous use of it for the support of my fam- 
ily, I have been at considerable expense in 
repairing the house, and have let it to a 
tenant for the ensuing winter, who was put 
in possession of it. I have also on- the land 
upwards of fourteen acres of winter grain, 
and have contracted to let the bouse and one 
acre of land for a year from next spring at a 
rent of £50. On October 38th, by order of 
the commanding officer of the above-said reg- 
iment, said house was broken open and en- 
tered into by violence, and possession taken 
of it, for the purpose of a hospital ; and I am 
the more astonished at a measure so injurious 
to me, after sustaining last winter the burden 
of having the same house employed for the 
public use without receiving any compensa- 
tion for it. At present my winter grain, in 
the midst of which is the house, will be ex- 
posed to destruction if the hospital is contin- 
ued in it. I beg leave to complain of an un- 
j ustifiable violation of my property and of an 
unreasonable imposition on me ; nor can I 
help feeling the distresses to which my fam- 
ily must be exposed when stript of so consid- 
erable a part of the slender means I have for 
their support. I hope for redress from your 
humanity and your well-known justice, and 
pray Your Excellency will order the house to 
be restored to me or rent given for the use 
of it." 

" However, the house and barn being a 
second time ruined, the fences torn away and 
the winter grain exposed to certain destruc- 
tion, will put me even in a worse state than I 
was before, as I shall be destitute of grain, 
and the land will not only be useless, but I 
shall be encumbered with the loan of the 
purchase [money]. I am advised to transmit 
a copy of my last memorial to the gentleman 
who presides over American affiiirs, with a 



28 



circumstantial account of the violence and in- 
dignities both myself and the church have 
suffered. Various complaints from various 
persons are on their passage home. If they 
gain admittance they may, perhaps, raise a 
suspicion that more pains have been taken to 
subjugate the Loyalists within than to reclaim 
the Americans without the lines. The army 
has done more essential injury to the King's 
cause than the utmost efforts of his enemies. 

" As to the church, it is in the same state 
as when I wrote last. The building at Oys- 
terbay is in a ruinous condition, as I men- 
tioned in my last, and, as it is exposed to 
every storm, must grow worse ; nor have the 
people spirits or opportunity to repair it at 
present. The congregations of Hempstead 
and Oysterbay attend Divine service in as 
great numbers as the circumstances of the 
times will permit, and appear remarkably se- 
rious and devout." 

Rev. Charles Inglis writes from New York, 
(November 26, 1779) : " Rev. Epenetus Town- 
send's battalion was ordered to Halifax, and 
he embarked at New York with his wife and 
five children. A most violent storm arose 
soon after the fleet in which he sailed left 
Sandy Hook. The fleet was dispersed and 
several ships perished. He has not been seen 
since. 

" The only vacant mission on Long Island is 
that at Huntington ; but no loyal clergyman 
dare settle there. That part of the Island is 
infested by Rebels who are constantly making 
incursions across the Sound, plundering the 
inhabitants and carrying many of them off 
captives. The only place on the Island where 
a clergyman would be safe and have hearers 
(besides Hempstead and Jamaica, where mis- 
sionaries are fixed,) is Brooklyn, where Mr. 
James Sayre officiates three Sundays out of 
four to a pretty numerous congregation, in a 
Dutch church of which he is allowed the use." 

1779. Judge Jones says that Colonel Birch 
sent a party to Secatogue, twenty miles east 
of Hempstead, to pull down a Quaker meeting 
house and bring away the materials for his 
own use. On their return they also took out 
all the sash windows of a house of Thomas 
Jones, at Fort Neck. Every Sunday when 
J udge Jones went to church he had the mor- 
tification of seeing the windows of his house 
fixed in a barn which Birch had converted 
into a barrack. The same year Birch had 
the Presbyterian meeting-house at Fosters 



Meadow pulled down, the materials brought 
away and converted to his own use. This 
sacred edifice was built by the villagers for 
the sake of Divine worship. Every inhabit- 
ant there was remarkably loyal. A minister 
who had prior to the rebellion occasionally 
preached in it was a Rebel. This, Birch made 
a pretence for robbing the loyal inhabitants 
of their church. 

Samuel Pintard, a soldier at Oswego (1755) 
and wounded at Minden, had retired to Hemp- 
stead, where he bought a genteel, snug house, 
and a neat little farm adjoining the parsonage ; 
but being tired of the thieving soldiers, he 
removed his furniture to Mr. Cutting's, a rela- 
tion of his, and then locked up his house and 
embarked for Madeira, where he had rela- 
tions. Birch soon fixed his eyes upon the 
place. He forced open a window ; creeping 
through, he opened the door and took posses- 
sion, sent his compliments to Mr. Cutting, and 
begged the use of Mr. Pintard's furniture for 
a few days, till his own could be brought 
from New York. Mr. Cutting, not willing 
to disoblige so powerful a neighbor, acquiesced 
and delivered up tlie furniture, which the 
colonel afterwards refused to return, claiming 
it as rebel property ! A Mr. Hewlett, five 
miles from Hempstead, had laid in shingles 
for building a house ; these Birch brought 
away without leave or license. When Mr. 
Hewlett, a noted Loyalist, applied for pay- 
ment, he was called a Rebel, threatened with 
the provost and turned out of doors ! Birch 
next cast his eyes upon a small building 
called " The Cage," erected by the inhabit- 
ants to confine persons convicted of drunk- 
enness, swearing and petty larcenies. He 
thought it would do for a wash-house. On 
Justice Clowes' refusing to give consent to its 
removal, the colonel ordered it removed, " For 
' The Cage' he would have." Birch's soldiers 
were expert at plundering, and nothing es- 
caped their hands. In the course of six 
weeks not a lamb nor a calf, a duck nor a 
goose, a turkey, a pig nor a fowl, was to be 
seen in the town, nor a potato, a turnip nor a 
cabbage in the fields. 



EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BROOKLYN. 

The earliest account of any attempt to or- 
ganize a church in Brooklyn is found in the 



29 



following advertisement from Rivington's 
Gazette of March 17, 1774 : 

LOTTERY 
For raising £600, for building a cliurch at Broolclyn- 
ferry, under the patronage of Trinity C'hurcli, New 
Yorlc, there being no place in King's County for pub- 
lic worship where the English Liturgy is used. Tlie 
inhabitants (having long submitted to inconveniences 
[in crossing the river to New York] from the inclem- 
ency of the weather in the winter season and other 
causes) intreat the assistance of the Public in pro- 
moting this laudable method of raising money for the 
erection of a decent building for the service of Al- 
mighty God. 

There are £4,000 in prizes, 4,000 tickets at 20 shil- 
lings each, 1,332 prizes and 2,668 blanks. 

Managers, Alexander Colden, Esq., Capt. St. Payne 
Ayde, Messrs. Matthew Gleaves, John Carpenter, 
Thomas Everlt, John Crawley, Whitehead Cornell and 
Thomas Horsfield. 

1774, March 81. Many persons have been 
misled by an opinion that the church proposed 
to be erected by Lottery at Brooklyn is to 
be under the ministry of the Rev. Jlr. Bernard 
Page.* It will be a truly orthodox church, 
strictly conformable to the doctrine and disci- 
pline of the Constitutional Church of England 
as by law established, and under the patron- 
age of the Rev. Rector and Vestry of Trinity 
Church. — Rivingto/i's Gazette. 

1778. On Sunday morning, April 5th, to 
the great satisfaction of the inhabitants, the 
church* at Brooklyn was opened, and Divine 
service according to the ritual of the Church 
of England, performed by the Rev. Mr. James 
Sayre,f who preached an excellent sermon 
and baptized a child, which was the first 
infant admitted to that sacrament within said 
church, where there will be Prayers and a 
sermon next Sunday and on Good Friday, 
also on the three Sundays, following : every 
fourth Sunday, afterwards, the church will be 
occupied by the Dutch congregation. — Gaine's 
Mercury. 

1778, December 23. Rev. Mr. Walter writes 
from New York : " I have resided more than 
two years in this city and neighborhood. 
The first summer I spent in Brooklyn, where 
I occasionally officiated to a small congrega- 

* Mr. Page was licensed by the Bishop of London, 
August 24th, 1772, for Wyoming. lie was evangelical, 
of the Whitefleld school. He died in Virginia. See 
"Meade's Virginia," ii, 259. 

+ Mr. Sayre lived in the large white house of Isaac 
Cortelyou, on the Bay side of New Utrecht, which was 
burned November 15, 1779. He published " God's 
Thoughts of Peace in War." He went to Nova Scotia. 
but returned to Fairtield, where he died, 1798, aged 53. 
His brother John died in New Brunswick, 1784. 



tion of English, who obtained for this purpose 
an order from the Commandant of New York 
to make use of the Dutch Church whenever 
the Dutch people had no service in it them- 
selves, which was as often as three Sundays 
in five. This summer the Rev. Mr. Sears 
[James Sayre] has officiated there in the same 
manner, and still continues to do so. Next 
[summer] I shall probably reside far down 
upon Long Island, and then I propose to be a 
frequent visitant to the Society's vacant mis- 
sion of Huntington, and the people of that 
neighborhood, who are at present totally des- 
titute of all public worship." 



Mr. Thomas, the first rector of Hempstead, 
was careless in keeping Records. He, how- 
ever, left the following memorandum in a 
Register Book : 

" I. John Thomas, of Jesus College, Oxford, 
was inducted Rector of Hempstead, December 
37, 1704, and since my induction to the pres- 
ent, July 13th, 1707, have baptized the under- 
written persons and children. The distinct 
time of their initiation into the Church by 
baptism I cannot particularly and precisely 
notice, this Register Book being lately 
brought and delivered into my hands. But 
all christenings hereafter shall (God willing) 
be duly and precisely registered." 

BAPTISMS. 
Children of Thomas and Mary Gildersleeve, baptized 

1705: 
Asa. born March 19, 1685 I Richard, born April 7, 1695 
George, " Oct. 22, 1687 | Elisha, " M;iy 7, 1697 
Thomas," May 16, 1690 I Elizabeth, " ApriU, 1701 
Maiy. " March 12, 1693 | Dorcas, " May 17, 1704 
Dorothy (wife of Samuel) Smith, aged 35, and all their 

seven children, baptized August 18, 1707: 
Dorothy, b'n Oct., aged 13 I Abraham, b'n June, aged? 
Samuel, •' June, " 12 •lohn, " Feb., •" 5 

Jonas, " Oct., " 9 I Isaac, " Dec, " 4 

Josias, born January, aged 2 years. 
Sons of Samuel Syren : 
James, born SepK. 23. 1708 | Daniel, born June 10, 1706 

John, born November 23. 1707. 

John, son of John and Margaret Thomas, was born 

October 23, 1708, and baptized November 29th. 

John, son of Asa Gildersleeve, born May 23, 1706. 

Hannah Flower, aged 19. 

Daughters of Samuel VV^illiams : 

Mary, born March 26, 1703 | Miriam, born Dec. 17, 1705 

Here end Mr. Tbomas' records, as far as can 
be now ascertained. 

1741, October 19. Mr. Brown writes from 
Brookhaven : " My church was never more 
flourishing. Some sober religious persons 
have been lately added to the communion. 
I baptized one brought up a Quaker, and five 



30 



of his cliildren, and a woman over seventy. 
and several infants. Another Quaker has 
come over to the Church, the father of a large 
family, who attends steadily public worship 
on Sundays. I have lately been on the East 
end of the Island, fifty or sixty miles east- 
ward. In passino: through the villages I 
preached six or seven times in eight days to 
large congregations, and in the meeting- 
house at East Hampton, a large building 
with two rows of galleries, one above the 
other. The house seemed full from bottom 
to top. There never was so glorious a pros- 
pect of increasing the Church as at this day, 
if a missionary could be sent among them. 
Slielter Island (where are several families 
favorably disposed to the Church, whom I 
myself have baptized) lies in the middle of 
three towns — East Hampton, Southampton 
and Southold. They are too far oif for me to 
visit, and then there is the expense of time 
and money in traveling. In five years past 
I don't know three persons who would have 
gone in a church sooner than in a Turkish 
mosque. I am the first person who performed 
the service of the Church of England there. 
In Southampton and a neighboring village 
the teachers and people conducted me into 
their meetinghouses unanimously, and they 
everywhere behaved with becoming decen- 
cy."* 

1748. Mr. Henry Barclay made a visitation 
as Commissary, and writes, October 5th, that 
" Mr. Seabury had preached several times at 
Huntington, where he found a good prospect 
of making a considerable congregation. On 
the good people's solicitation the ministers 
recommend Samuel Seabury, Jr., to be their 
catechist for the present, to read the Church 
service and sermons, with such encourage- 
ment [pay] as the Venerable Society think 
proper. The schoolmasters at Hempstead and 
Oysterbay are incapable of further service, the 
one being deaf and the other deprived of the 
use of his reason. Their salaries might be 
paid to Huntington ; although it may seem 
hard to turn a superannuated servant out of 



* Rev. John Sharpe, Chaplain, had written from 
Foit Anne, N. Y., (November 24, 1705), " I think mis- 
sionaries are wanting. Two for Suffolk Coiuity, in 
the East end of Long Island, might do good service." 
Lord Cornbury also writes, November 22d: "I was 
(on a tour to the East end of Long Island) last 
summer, at Brookhaven, and my chaplain (Sliarpe) 
preached twice there. The minister and people came 
in to hear him." 



bread, it is more unreasonable that the Society 
should be burthened with them, when ample 
provision is made for the poor by law." 

1768, November 30. The church wardens 
and vestry of Huntington lay before the 
Venerable Society '• their unhappy circum- 
stances." In Huntington and Queens Village, 
five miles distant, are upwards of thirty heads 
of families, professors of the Church of Eng- 
land, who are destitute of the administration 
of God's Word and Sacraments. We era- 
ployed Mr. Kneeland to read prayers and 
sermons to us and sent him to England for 
orders. Henry Lloyd, of Boston, recommends 
Mr. Greaton, of Boston, at a salary of £30, 
with firewood, a house and glebe. His ser- 
vices to include Islip and Queens Village. 
He may revive the Church at Brookhaven, 
which is almost ruined and come to nothing, 
through Mr. Lyons' misconduct."* 

1769, August 8. Mr. Greaton, at Boston, 
[on a visit], writes that at Huntington I have 
a very decent congregation, who almost con- 
stantly attend. Frequently a laimber of dis- 
senters come to hear me, who behave with 
the utmost decency and seem much pleased. 
Several times I have had the church so full 
that it could not conveniently hold more, and 
many were obliged to go away for Y'ant of 
room. I flatter myself that in time a flourish- 
ing church may be raised up there, if the 
people are so happy as to continue to enjoy 
the smiles of the Society. The people have 

* 1767, April 23. The Society will continue their 
salary to Mr. Lyons till Michaelmas next, and no 
longer, as his mission is dwindled down under his 
ill conduct [eccentric habits] to almost nothing. Mr. 
Lyons replies: "I fling myself on the mercy of the 
Society. My enemies would deprive me of bread and 
cliaracter. They say my behavior is sordid, that I go 
to church in a lay dress, with blue cloth cloak ; tliat I 
wear a threadbare coat on week days. This old coat 
harmonizes with my house, ready to tumble down, 
having for several years been propjjed within and 
without, and no assistance from the people. IIow 
much two or three bold leaders will influence a multi- 
tude ! They are Churchmen in words, but Congrega- 
tionalists in discipline. They can't charge me with 
omission of duty or immorality. I have been twenty- 
flve years in the Society's service. I've preached every 
Sunday since my last letter, baptized four infants, had 
nine communicants last Christmas and seven this 
Easter. I've drawn a set of bills for £25 in favor of 
Garret Kapelye." Mr. Lyons thanked the Society 
(March 25, 1747) for a gratuity of £10, has baptized 
eight in his new mission, wants Clark's sermons and 
some tracts in opposition to Methodism, as enthusi- 
asm prevails in these dark regions, through the hot 
zeal of canting preachers. 



31 



purchased a new glebe, with a good house, at 
a cost of £344, currency, which they propose 
to make over to the Society in lieu of the old 
glebe, which cost only £120. 

1780, May 18. Rev. Mr. Walter writes from 
New York that : "I was last Sunday at Hunt- 
ington, and officiated for the first time this 
season at that church, to a small but attentive 
congregation. The church, which till last 
winter had remained untouched amid the 
desolations of war, was then taken by the 
[British] army for barracks, and, according to 
custom, greatly abused and damaged. The 
parsonage house is in tolerable repairs, but 
the barn has suffered in common with the 
church. Several of the principal families 
have gone into the rebellion, but their places 
are supplied by a number of refugees from 
Connecticut, who, uniting with the remaining 
families, are desirous, notwithstanding their 
discouragements, to keep the service of the 
Church among them. I have promised to 
visit them once a month till winter, and I 
hope to prevail on some of our refugee clergy 
here to do the same." 

LOTTERY 
For the benefit of Cniolint; Church, Sotauket; 9.S0 
pi-izesi, 2,070 blauki^, being 3,000 tickets at $4 each 
niMkinj; $12,000, with a deduction of 15 per cent. It is 
purely for the assii^tnnce of an infaut community, not 
able to assist themselves, and for the promotion of 
the Christian religion. It is hoped every charitable 
and well-disposed person will cheerfully contribute 
their mite for the completion of so laudable and de- 
sirable an end. As soon as full, the drawing will com- 
mence at Brookhaven, under tlie direction of the 
Warden and Vestry, and under the immediate manage- 
ment of Selah Strong, Esq., John Moore, Esq., Joseph 
Brewster and Henry Nicoll. Tickets to be had of the 
printers, V. P. Ashfleld, and of said Manajjers.— ii«p- 
i7tgtun's Gazette, January 22, 1783. 

MR. CUTTING'S SALARY NOT PAID. 

Nov. 5, 1783. 
To Mr. Antony Van Nostrand, 
WoLVER Hollow: 
Sir— I believe you remember that at a meeting of 
the Vestry and Justices of Osyterbay, in April last, I 
attended, and that it appeared both from my book and 
the receipts produced by Mr. Van Wyck that there 
was two years' salary due to me from the loth of 
January hut. Mr. Van Wyck paid up to 1779. Mr. 
Isaac Hewlett was then chosen church-warden, and 
the constable paid into the hands of Mr, Justice John 
Hewlett 20 shillings for the year 1780. The years 1781 
and 1782 are therefore still unpaid ; and this present 
year, 1783, is not reckoned. All this, as you remem- 
ber, appeared plain to the Vestry, who agreed that 
they thought it right that the back salary should be 
paid, but desired that the present year might not be 
brought to account. To this I agreed, and the con- 



stable then said he would get me the money in a few 
days. When I called upon liim he told me he was not 
prepared. I went to him a second lime. He then told 
me it was necessary that I should have an order frona 
the clerk of the Vestry. I accordingly waited upon 
you twice, but had not the pleasnre of finding you at 
home. Since that I have been very ill, and can scarce 
now sit to write. I have therefore sent my son to beg 
the favor of you to give an order for the years 1781 
and 1782. You must think it hard for services through 
all weathers for so long a time, attended with fatigue 
to myself and expense in horses, should pass unre- 
warded. Depending therefore entirely upon your 
humanity and justice for giving me that satisfaction 
which the Vestry at that time agreed to, I with pleas- 
ure subscribe myself your very humble servant and 
friend, Leo'd Cutting. 



1705, June 14. Lord Cornbury to the Gen- 
eral Assembly: " The ditHculties which some 
very worthy ministers of the Church of Eng- 
land have met with, in the getting the main- 
tenance settled upon them by Act of General 
Assembly of this Province, passed in the year 
1693, moves me to recommend to you the 
passing an Act explanatory of the above- 
mentioned Act, that those worthy, good men, 
who have ventured to come so far, for the 
service of God and His Church, and the good 
and edification of the people, to the salvation 
of their souls, may not for the future be vexed, 
as some of them have been, but may enjoy in 
quiet that maintenance which was by a law 
provided for them. I further recommend to 
you the passing an Act to provide for the 
maintenance of some ministers in some of the 
towns at the east end of Long Island, where I 
do not find any provision has yet been made 
for the propagating religion." — JouR. Ass., 
i., 196. 

1717, April 13th. The memorial of Rev. 
Robert Jeuuey, master of the Grammar School, 
New York, was by order of Council laid be- 
fore the House of General Assembly and 
recommended to their consideration, which 
proposed that a sufficient fund may be raised 
for building a school house and dwelling 
house for the master, and to allow him a 
salary of £70 per annum for^eaching thirty- 
five boys. — JouR. i., 393. 

Rev. John C. Rudd, deacon, was a mission- 
ary for several months in 1806, to the desti- 
tute congregations of Huntington, Oysterbay, 
Setauket and Islip. The three former con- 
gregations before the Revolution were nu- 
merous and respectable, but since, having 
only occasional services, were fast dwindling 
away. In Huntington he found it difficult to 



32 



arouse the dormant zeal for the Church of 
the few scattered families ; but the ministra- 
tions of the Church revived their former at- 
tachment, and they arranged to repair their 
decayed church. 

At Oysterbay the church w^as totally de- 
cayed, the few materials that remained were 
sold, and an Academy was built on the Church 
lot, the right being reserved to use it as a 
Church on Sundays. The Church families 
had become extinguished or joined other de- 
nominations. Mr. Rudd could do nothing, as 
the establishing a church would (as they 
feared) divert the property from the acad- 
emy.* 

At Setauket the Church people being nu- 
merous, tliough destitute of public worship, 
yet retained a love for the Liturgy, welcomed 
Mr. Rudd, attended his ministrations, and 
joined in the responses, so that the prospects 
of the revival of the Church were flattering. 

At Islip the congregation was small and 
had no money, yet were zealous and tried to 
put their church in decent repair. A family 
prevented its being desecrated, and though 
there were no services there, they cleaned out 
the church yearly and decked it with Christ- 
mas greens. In 178G, Mr. Andrew Fowler 
had been reader at Islip. Brookhaven and 
Oysterbay. 



CHRIST CHURCH, MANHASSET. 

For many years the congregation living 
north side the Plains (especially on the 
Necks) felt it a great inconvenience to ride 
over to the Hempstead church. To relieve 
them in some measure, occasional services 
were held in the Dutch church at Success. 
In 1799, June 26, Rev. J. H. Hobart preached 
at Major Kissam's, Flower Hill. On June 
22d, 1803, the vestry of St. George's Church 
consented that a church should be built at 
Cow Neck, and on December 2d, George On- 
derdonk, farmer, and Sarah, his wife, for 
$195.47 sold two acres and ninety-seven 
square rods, at the Head of Cow Neck, to 
John M. Smith, Benjamin Tredwell, William 
Mitchell and Thomas C. Thorne, farmers, in 
trust for an Episcopal church and cemetery. 

SUUSClflPTIONS FOR BUILDING THE CHURCH. 
Akerly, Jacaniiah $5 | Akerly, I'rit^cilla ^5 

* Tho Ac'idemy wa? opened April 1st, 1802, under 
the cure of Rev. Marmp.duko Earl, a Bapti.-t, who was 
boin Miinh 1, nfi'J, and died July 13, 185(i, 



Allen. Henry $40 

Allen, John 2d 5 

Allen, Richard 30 

Allen, David 105 

Allen, Jame8 30 

Allen, Gideon 1 

Allen, William, Jr., 2 

Allen, Philip, Jr., 6 

Allen, Jacamiah 5 

Allen, Charles P. 60 

Allen, Dobson 2 
Allen. Maria, daughter 

of Philip 50 

Allen, Mary, d'ter of S. 10 

Allen, Daniel 10 

Allen, Eliz , wid. John 5 

Allen, Richard K. 5 

Allen. Benjamin & Co. 20 

Appleby, Epenetus 25 

Barton, John 2 

Baxter, Israel 5 

Beadle, Uriah 10 

Blades, John 1 

Blossom, Elisha 20 

Burtis, John 10 

Cash, ,1 

Cheesman. Benjamin 2 

Cheesman, Richard 2 

Cheesman. Timothy 3 

Coles, Abram 1 

Cornwall, Charles 20 

Cornwall, James 50 

Cornwall, Richard H. 20 

Coniwell. Daniel 10 

Cornell, Hannah, 1 

Cornell, Hannah, wid. 1 
Cornell, Hannah, wid, 

of Japhet 1 

Cornell, Henry 2 

Cornell, Hewlett 50 

Cornell. Joseph 4 

Cornell, Joshua 3 

Cornell, Morris 2 

Cox, William 1 

Crominelin, Charles 2 
<;ro(nmelin, Charles, Jr. 5 

Dayenport, Newbury 20 

Davenport, Samuel H. 5 

Denton, Jonas 7 

Denton, Lawrence 7 

Denton. Samuel 6 

Dodjje, Thomas 2 

Dodt,'e, Tristram 2 

Dodge, William 3 

Dodge, William (i 

Ellison. John 5 
Ferguson. David 1,50 

Hagner, Henry 20 

Hagner, Henry, Jr. 15 

Ilains, Daniel 1 

Ilaviland, William 5 

Hawxhurst, Townseiid 4 

Hewlett, Benj. & Sons 50 

Hewlett, Benjuniin 85 

Hewlett, George 150 

Hewlett, Hannah 10 

Hewlett, James 60 

Hewlett, James. Jr, 20 

Hewlett, Joseph L. 75 

Hewlett, Lewis S. 45 

Hewlett, Samuel 45 

Hewlett, Sarah 10 

Hewlett, Susan P. 5ll 

Hewlett, Whitehead II 

Hewlett. William 10 

Hicks. Samuel 5 
Hicks, Sarili, w. Morris 2 

Hicks, William 1 

Hoogland, Daniel 1 

Hutchings, .lolin 4 

Hutchings, Stephen 1 

Hutchings, William 4 
Hutching^;. Sam'l "1 p* 

Mott, Benj. B. I -iJ ,„ 
Ross. Charles {T< 
Weeks, Nicholas J j 

Kei-Ier, Ebenrzer 20 

Kissani, Henjainin T. 35 

Kissain. Daniel (PI.) 35 

Kissam. Daniel 23 



Kissam, Dnn.Whiteh'd$18 

Kissam, John 120 

Kissam, Joseph 25 

Kissam, Joseph, Jr. 5 

Lawrence, Stephen 2 

Marston, Lawrence 1 

Mitchell, Allen 20 

Mitchell, John 100 

Mitchell, Robert 5 

Mitchell, Samuel T. 10 

Mitchell, Singleton 5 

Mitchell, Sing. & Jos. 35 

Mitchell, Uriah 10 

Mitchell, Whitehead 3 

Mitchell, William 100 

Morrell, Ann 5 

Morrell, John 85 

Mott, Jacob 10 
Onderdonk, Hendrick 

& Sons 150 

Onderdonk, Peter 5 

Peters, John 3 

Piatt, Benjamin 100 

Poole, James 5 

Reeve, Isaac T. 5 

Heeve, Jonathan 1 

Hemsen, Daniel 2 

Salts, Maurice 4 

Silts, William 1 

Sands. John 50 

Sands, Johi?. Jr. 50 

Sands, Ray & Griffin 10 

Schenck, Rulef 10 

Sealey, William 1 

Sealey, Daniel 2 

Searing, Mary 5 

Sell, James 55 

Smith, Hannah 1 

Smith, James 20 

Smith, John M. 85 
Smith, Jos. i& Silvauus, 25 

Smith. Richard 35 

Smith, Richard R. 5 

Smith, Thomas 10 

Smith, Timothy 20 

Smith, Timotliy 8 

Smith, William (iO 

Tatterson. Rich:ird 10 

Thorne, Henry W. 10 

Thorne, John 80 

Thome, John, Jr. 20 

Thorne, Richard 100 

Thorne, Richard, Jr, 30 

Thorne, Thomas C. 55 

Thorne, William 65 

Thorpe, John B. 3 

Toftey, Daniel 20 

Tofloy, Rebi'cca 2 

Town send, Hewlett 20 

Townsend, Jost'ph 2 

Townsend, Jotham 2 
Townsend. Rich (Hills) 18 
Townsend, Ruth and 

Freelove, 10 
Tredwell, Dr Benjamin 30 

Tredwell, Benjamin 100 

Tredwell, John 70 

Tredwell. Thomas 80 

Utton. Charles P. 30 

Vaieiitine, Cah-b 2 

Valentine, Jacob 5 

Valentine, Philip 10 

Valentine, Richard 10 

Van Wyck, Barnt 10 

Van Wyck, Cornelius 5 

Williams, John H. 5 

Williams, William 4 

Williams, Wil.-on 2 

Willis, Townsend 15 
Woolli'}, Bfiij:Miiin, Jr. 1 

Woolley, IJeiijainin 24 

Wool ley, Henry 20 

Woolley, John 17 

Woolley. Samuel 20 

Woolley, Thomas 15 

$3,725.50 
Trinity Ciiurch, 2.000.00 



Total, 



$5,725.50 



83 



SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 



Haiiner. Mary 
Hejieinan. Catharine { 
Hesoman, Rebecca ) 
Hewlett, Plu'be 
Kissiitn, Elizabetli 
Kissam, Pliebe ) 
Kissam, Rebecca f 
Kissam, Sarah B, 
Mitchell, Jane H. 
Mitchell, Kebecca J. 
IMitchell, Sally 
Ondeidonk. Maiia 
Piatt, Eliza and Sarah 
Reeves, Caiuliiio A. 



CHURCH FURNITURE. 

Sands, Anna 3 

Sands, Kezia 3 

Sands, Sarah 3 

Smith, Jane 5 

Smith, Rebecca 5 

Sell. Catharine 3 

Townsend, Sarah 2 

Tiedwell, Hannah 3 

Tredwell, Pegiry 3 

Tredwell, Marian 3 

WooUev, Susanna 3 



Total, 



$116 



At the raising of the clmi'ch a bountiful 
dinner was served up in the open air, on 
tables made of rough boards.* 

On Sunday, November 20th, 1803, Bishop 
Moore consecrated the new edifice by the 
name of Christ Church, and also confirmed 
fifty persons. Mr. Hart read prayers and the 
Bishop preached. In 1804, $14 was paid Mr. 
Sell, sexton ; and in 1805, $9.37 was paid 
Daniel Corn well, parish clerk. f William and 



* In 1818, Christ Church Academy (the first in North 
Hempstead) was erected by the vestry on the Chiircli 
land, and opened in October, under the care of Rev. 
Eli Wheeler, who was assisted in succession by James 
P. Cotter, William Shelton and Harry Finch, candi- 
dates for Holy Orders, and Ebenezer Close. In May, 
1824, the Rev. J. P. F. Clarke (ordained deacon in St. 
George's Church, December 10, 1820,) succeeded him, 
among whose assistants were William J, Barry, Fred- 
erick Craft, Henry Ondcrdonk, Jr., (1827-8), and Rev. 
William Ernenpentch. 

t Mr. Cornwel! sat in a little box under the reading 
desk. He made the responses, gave out the Psalms to 
be sung, and led the singing, there being no musical 
instrument as yet in the church. The pulpit was a 
gift from St. George's Church, New York. It was 
made of mahogany, being the spar of a ship repaired 
in the Bay of Honduras. It was quite too large for 
the chnrch. It was covered by a sounding-board of 
exquisite workmanship, on the summit of which was 
perched the emblematic dove with the olive-sprig in 
it« mouth. The chancel and communion table were 
between the three-story pulpit and the rear window, 



Dobsou Allen built a store and inn near by, 
and in 1806 William was sexton and enter- 
tained the rector and cared for his horse on 
Sundays. 

The rector. Rev. Seth Hart, officiated in the 
church every other Lord's day till 1818, when 
Mr. Wheeler, (ordained deacon May 8th, 1814.) 
who had been a private tutor in Wynant Van 
Zandt's family, became his assistant ;* and 
thereafter the church was open every Sunday. 

Christ Church was separated from St. 
George's, March 29, 1819,f and incorporated, 
Mr. Wheeler remaining sole minister till No- 
vember 1, 1823 ; and Mr. Clarke was called 
December 1st, and resigned in June, 1832 ; 
and Joseph F. Phillips was called August 
20th, who was ordained priest in this church, 
October 17, 1833. In 1835, Nov. 30th, Moses 
Marcus came, and left in 1837, when Mr. 
Clarke was recalled. May 9th. Mr. Clarke 
resigned again, October 17, 1849. The rec- 
tors thereafter were Samuel Cox, 1849; Gt.W. 
Porter, 1854 ; (t. F. Bugbee, 1805 ; and James 
E. Homans. 1869. 

as it was in St. Paul's, New York. This arrangement 
was after the ancient manner, but it prevented the 
congregation from having a fair view of the most in- 
teresting ceremonies of the Divine office. 
* To THE Rector, Churchwardens and Ves- i 

TRY OP St. George's Church, Hempstead, f 
I now have the pleasure of informing you that I 
accept the call to the office of Assistant Minister in 
the parish, which you were so kind as to give me in 
your meeting held at the Court House. 

I am, Messrs,, Your Ob't H'ble Ser., 
July 17, 1818, Eli Wheelek. 

t The writer hereof was present when Mr. Hart 
preached his farewell sermon. He shed abundant 
tears. Several respectable families had so deep- 
seated an affection for their old pastor that thej' were 
loath to part from him. For a while he met them on 
Sunday afternoons in the Reformed Dutch Church at 
Success, 



IIsTIDJaiK. 



Aoadomy, 
Adults, 

Albertiis, James 
Allen. 

Allgeo, David 
Anabaptists, 



Ai'chdale, Captain 

Ashfleld, V. P. 

Ayde, St. P. 

Baird, Alexander 

Baldwin, George 

B.ill, 

Baptism, 

Baptists, 

Barn, 

Barracks, 

Bartow, Rev. John 

Bason, 

Bedell, 



3-2, 33 

4, 

8 

9, 33 

11 

11, 16, 2d 

15 

31 

29 

9 



8 

2,4,6 

11 

23. 27 

28,31 

3 

26 

5, 6, 15 



Delancey, 8, 15, 2S 

Denomination, 16, 24 

Denton, 1, 2, 6, 7, 16 

Desk, 6, 26, 33 

Dickinson, Samuel 2 

Dinner, 8 



Dis.senters, 

Distemper, 

Donation, 

Dorland, 

Doughty, Isaac 

Dragoons, 



4, 13, 21, 30 

19 

2n 

6, 10 

2 

14, 37 



Drisius, Rev. Samuel 1 



2, 9, 15, 16, -26 



Bell, 
Benches, 

Benefaction, 20 

Bethpage, 20 

Betts, Millicent 11 

Bible, 6, 17. 22 

Birch, Colonel 14, 37, 28 

Bishop, 34 

Boarding school, 23 

Books, 5, 17 

Bovvnas, Samuel 2 

Bradford, William 2 

Brewster, Joseph 31 

Brookhaven, 6, 7, 30 

Brooklyn. 28, 29 
Brown, 7, 8, 9, 11, 39 

Bungy, 20 

Burying-place, 6 

Buryings, 17, 18 

Cage, 27, 28 

Campbell, 7 

Canting, 17, 30 

Caroline cliurch, 7, 31 

Carpenter, John 29 

Carpet, 6 

Catecliise, 20 

Catechist, 5, 6, 10, 22, 30 

Catechisms, 10, 18 

Catechumens, 18, 21, 34 



Drum, 

Duchess Co., 

Dutch, 1, 

Earmarks, 

Easter, 

East Hampton, 

Education, 

Ellison, Richard 

Einpie, Adam 



2,4, 5 

11, 33 

13, 23, 39 

5.6 

6, 18, 30 

30 

5, 18 

11 

15 



Enthusiasm,9, 10, 11,16,30 

Ei)iscopal, 34 

Eucharist, 4 

Evans. Rev. Evan 3 

Everit, Thomas 29 

Flower, Ilauuah 29 

Floyd, 6 

Fogs, 17 

Fordhara, 1 

Fort. 1 

Fort-neck, 28 

Posters Meadow. 5, 2» 

Fowler, Andrew 33 

Friends. 1, 2 

Funeral bell, 11 

Funeral pall, 13 

Funeral sermon, 18 

Gallery, 4, 7, 11, 23 

Gernion, Isaac 9 
Gildersleeve, 3, 3, 5,9,13,29 

Gill, Roger 2 

Gleaves, Matthew 29 



Kissam, 9, 11, 15, 32 

Kneeland, Rev. E., 12, 30 



Cedar Swamp, 

Chalice, 

Chancel, 

Chandler, 

Charter, 

Cheeseman, Joseph 

Christ Cliurch, 

Christenings, 

Christmas, 

Church, 

Church-days, 



16 

6 

26, 33 

25 

9, 36 

11 

10. 33 

17, 33 

30 

4, 14, 30 

5 



Ch. of England. 4. 5,29.30 
Churchman, 3, 16. 25, 30 
Churchwarden, 2, 7, 10 
Clap-board, 6 

Clarke, George 3, 6, 8 

Clowes, 8, 11, 19 

Clerk, 2, 9, 10, 18 

Cloth, b, 19 

Cock, Katharine 6 

Colgan, Rev. Thomas 10 
Cohlen, Alexander 29 

Coles, Nathaniel 3 

Cotnmissary, 21, 26. 30 
Communicants, 4, 23 

Communion, 5 



Glebe, 

God-father, 

GoUliug. 

Good Friday, 

Great Neck, 

Greaton, 

Guard-honse, 

Hagawout, 

Hall, 

Hart, 

Havilaud, John 

Heathen, 

Hewlett, 

Hobart, 

Holy Orders, 

Homilies, 

Horsfield, Thomas 

Hospital, 

Hospitality, 

Hour-glass, 

Hugins, James 



18, 30, 31 

17, 23 

6, 11 

39 

2 

13, 30 

27 

II, 14, 15 

8 

15, 33 

2 

12, 18 

9, 28, 31 

1, 2, 25, 33 

21, 23 

6 



Langdon, 

Lady-day 

Latham, John 

Latitudinarians, 

Leaky, William 

Lean-to, 

Lectures, 

Lee, Thomas 

Lefferts, John 

Library, 

License, 

Liturgy, 

Lloyd, Henry 

Lord's day, 

Lord's supper, 

Lottery, 

Lowe, John 

Loyalist, 

Lyons. 

Mandate, 

Maintenance, 

Marriag'es, 

Martin, 

Marvin, 

Marsh. John 

Mather, 

Matin ecock, 

Meadow, 

Meeting-house, 

Methodism, 

Michaelmas, 

Minister, 

Missionary, 

Mitchell, 

Moore, 

Morris. 

Mott, John 

Musqueto Cove, 

Negroes, 

New England, 

New Light, 

Nicoll. Henry 

Noble, 

Norwich, 

Ogden, 

Onderdonk. 

Ordination, 

Outcry 



29 

27 

5, 19 

1 

9 



Comm'n table, 18, 19, 26, 33 Insurgents 



Huntington, 10. 11.12,14,30 

Huntington South, 33 

Hyde Park, 8, 36 

Immersion 21 

Independents, 

Indians, 

Induction, 

Infidels, 

Institution, 



Congregationalist. 30 

Consecration. 8, 10, 25, 33 
Cornbury, Lord, 3, 30 

Cornell, 6, 8, 26, 29, 33 

Cosby, Governor 7, 16 
Cow Neck, 20, 33 

Crawley, John 29 

Cutler, Rev. Timothy 10 
Cutting, 12, 14, 23, 25, 31 
Cushion, 6 

Damask. 8 

Damnation, 19 

Davies, V 

Davi.s, 10 

Deists, 23 



Islip 

Itiner.tnt, 

Mr. Jackson, 

Jamaica, 

Jecocks. Thomas 

Jenney. 

Jericho, 

Jerusalem, 

Johnson, Jacob 

Jones, 

Justice 

Keble, 



11, 18 

3, 6. 10. 13 

18, 31 

13 

14 

12, 13, 30, 33 

3, 16, 34 



9 

17 

15 

20 

13 

1 

7 

9 

13 

20 

21 

17, 29, .33 

10, 15, 30 

7, 18 

10, 19 
23, 29, 31 

15 

25, 28 

10, 12, 15, 30 

3. 6 

31 

16, 17, 18 

11, 14 

8, 11 
8, 9, 26 

3 

16 

19 

1, 23 

10, 16, 26 

30 

6, 17, 20 

30 

8, 33 

1, 15, 31 

6, 35 
8 

16 
6, 8, 18, 20 
4 
10 
31 
15 

16, 20 

7, 19 
15, 23, 33 

15 
1 
Oyst'rb'y, 3.6.10,13.16,28,33 
Page, Rev. Bernard 29 
Pall, 12 

Paper, 5 

Parish, 3, 16, 17, 20. 24 
Parish Clerk, 14, 15 

Parsonage, 1, 4, 19 

Paten, 6 

Patrean, Daniel 9 

Pearsall, Nathaniel 1, 3 
8, 11, 16 

17, 18 
6, 8, 36 

21,23 

3,8 

27, 28 

5, 17, 20 

16 

16 

8,3 



Rockaway, 


8 


Roe, John 


8 


Rowland, John 


9 


Rudd, J. C. 


31 


Rum, 


18 


Ryerson, George 


12 


Sabbath. 


1 


Sacrament, 


5, 6, 21 


Salary, 


1,31 


Sands, 


6 


Sayre, 


14, 28, 29 


Scantling, 


8 


School. 15, 16, 


20, 22, 26 


Schoolhouse. 


18 


Schoolmaster, 5, 


10, 18, 30 


Seabury, 


10, 12, 21 


Seats. 


8 


Searle, Cornet 


14 


Secatogue, 


28 


Sectaries, 


21, 24 


Sermon, 


8, 17. 30 


Setauket, 


31, 33 


Sexton, 


9, 11. 13 


Sharpe, Rer. J, 


30 


Shelter Island, 


9. 30 


Shingles, 


6,8, 38 


Sickness, 


5,22 


Sinclair, Cornet 


15 


Silk, 


6 


Slaves, 


6 


Slays, 


. 20 


Smith, 2, 


6, 8, 9, 29 



4 
9 
6, 8, 9 
16 
20 
11 



Peters. 

Perquisites, 

Pews, 

Physic, 

Pine, 

Pintard, Samuel 

Plains, 

Piatt, Benjamin 

Poole, Samuel 

Prayer-book, 4, 5, 

Presbyterians, 3, 7, 20, 24 



Prime. Dr. B. Y. 

Pritchard, 

Probationer, 

Provost, 

Profaneness, 

Proselyte, 

Psalms, 

Pulpit, 

Quaker, 1, 2, 

Quakerism, 

Queens Village, 



1 

3 

21 

25, 38 

33 

18 

16, 21, 33 

4. 6. 36, 33 

7, 9, 19, 30 

13. 31 

13, 30 



Spire, 

Snow, 20 

Southampton, 7. 30 

Southold, 8. 30 

Standard, Rev. Thomas 6 
Sounding-board, 33 

Steeple, 7, 16 

St. George, 7 

Strong. Selah 31 

Stoughton, 3 

Stuart, 3 

Stuyvesant, 1 

Success, 16, 20, 32 

Sweeping, 11 

Sundav, 9, 23 

Sutton, Robert 9 

Syren, 29 

Table, 6 

Temple, Thomas 9, 10 
Thomas, 3, 6. 25. 29 

Thorne, 9, 11. 33 

Throop, 15 

Thunder-clap, 16, 26 

Toleration, 23 

Town send. Rev. E. 28 
Town-house, 1, 10 

Tracts, 7 

Train-bands, 10 

Tredwell. 6, 8, 16, 21. 32 
Trinity Church, 2, 99 

Turner. James 12 

ITrquhart, Rev. Wm. 3, 4 
Valentine, Samuel 16 

Van Nostrand. 14, 31 

Van Ostrant, Cornelius 12 
Van Wvck, 31 

Vesey. Rev. Wm. 2, 3. 8. 26 
Vestry, 5, 15, 31 

Visiting. 17 

Walter, Rev. Wm. 14, 29, 31 
Watts, George 12 

Weather, 19, 20, 23, 31 

Westbuiy, 20 



Kciitli. Rev, George 

Kidney. 

King's arms. 



Wetmore, 

Whalers, 

Wheatly, 

Wheeler. Rev. Eli 

Whitsunday, 

Wiggins. Richard 

Williams, 

30 Willis, 
15 Windows, 
28 Witnesses, 

31 Wood, 
18, 39 1 Wolver Hollow, 

3, 3 ; Religion, 23 | Wright, Edmund 

4. 17 I [Responses, 17, 33, 33 j Yagers, 

8, 15 Robertson, Governor 27 j Yelverton, Anthony 



Rapelye, Garret 
Rattoone, Rev. E. D 
2, 3. 9, 26. 38 I Rebels, 

6, 31 Refugees. 
7, 9, 16. 20 1 Register-book, 



6, 15, 36 

18 

20 

15, 33 

14 

15 

9,29 

2,6 

1, 26, 28, 3JJ 

17 



1, 10 

31 

2 

15 

8 



